Albert, 81 is a willing and winning volunteer!
Congratulations to 81 year old Albert McIntyre from Mount Merrion Parish Church who recently won the Marie Matthews Participation Category at the Age Friendly Belfast Older Volunteer Awards 2017.
This is the fifth year of the awards and there were 153 nominations from 43 different organisations. The Marie Matthews Participation Award aims to recognise a volunteer who embodies the true spirit of volunteering, either through volunteering for a number of groups or through actively encouraging others to be involved.
Albert was nominated by his rector, Revd Adrian Green, for his ceaseless and energetic work each week with infants, children and teens, adults, and people of his age and older.
Albert was delighted to be nominated and never expected to win, hence his slightly shocked expression as he received his award from the Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Nuala McAllister and Deputy Mayor Cllr Sonia Copeland. The award ceremony was on 12 December in Belfast City Hall and Albert was accompanied by his daughter, Amanda, and son, Gary, both of whom are immensely proud of their dad’s achievement.
Commenting on Albert’s award his rector said, “Albert is a selfless individual who is always ready to help others, often putting himself out to do so. Whenever there is an event on, Albert can be found helping out; from greeting people, to washing cars, shifting furniture and tidying up. His ‘can do’ attitude is a positive example to those much younger in age and he is the sort of person who sees a need and then just gets on to fulfil it without bringing it to others’ attention. I am delighted that Albert’s hard work, over many years, has received the recognition it justly deserves.”