A GIRL guide leader who has dedicated 60 years to the organisation and her community won the gold medal at the Citizen of Southend Awards.

Jacky Goddard, 74, from Westcliff, amazed the judges with her six decade long commitment to girl-guiding, and was presented with the gold award by Mayor John Lamb.

Jacky has worked tirelessly throughout her life from being a Brownie herself to spending years running her own units.

She currently runs an overflowing unit of guides in Westcliff and shares her knowledge and gives support to many young women through their guiding lives.

She has led groups of adults and passed on her wisdom and care, and spent many years producing the Southend gang show, providing young people in the area with an opportunity to perform live on stage.

Jacky, said: “I was so surprised, as guiding is what I’ve done all my life.

“I love working with the young children and on The Gang Show, and my family helps me and gets involved with everything.

“I’ve also made such lovely friends along the way.”

Winner of the Silver Award was Emma Cox, 40, from Ashingdon, who set up a support group for mothers whose babies died during pregnancy or childbirth

She has taken part in several fundraisers for the Butterfly Bereavement Suite at Southend Hospital, after sadly having to use the facilities herself.

Bronze citizen of the year was shared.

The first went to Anna and Scott Baker, from Leigh, who recently started a charity to help children in poverty, by providing them with a new school uniform and PE kit for school.

Katie Southgate, 34, also from Leigh, received an award for volunteering her own time to support families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with tumours.

The awards were held at Porters Civic House, in Southend.

Philip Miller MBE owner of Stockvale group, the company which runs Adventure Island, is co-founder of the Citizen of Southend Awards.