FROM helping at a local scout club to serving as the Mayor of Monmouth, 73-year-old Sylvia Gilbert has dedicated her life to helping others.

And now her kindness, dedication and pure hard work has been recognised with her being named as a runner-up in a national competition that rewards older people who have made a contribution to society.

Nominating her, friend Neil Boyer, of Abergavenny, stated that describing Mrs Gilbert as “caring” was “like describing Columbus as a sailor”.

This is after Mrs Gilbert has been involved in numerous organisations during her years including been a town councillor for 10 years, serving as Mayor of Monmouth from 1995 to 1996, being a school governor and helping at a Sunday school and scouts club.

Her roles have also included being a member of Monmouthshire Local Health Board, a member of Gwent Association of Volunteers and a member of the central executive committee of GMB Trade Union.

Her work still continues today with Mrs Gilbert’s current roles including chairing Monmouth Action 50+, Monmouthshire council’s Community Transport Committee and the All-Wales Reference Group for Age Cymru.

Mr Boyer said: “We are lucky to have this genuine, caring, down-to-earth, self-taught, self-made, constantly good-natured, unflagging person, still acting as a good servant of Monmouthshire’s people and community.”

Mrs Gilbert, who is married to John and has four children and five grandchildren, said: “I have always enjoyed being a volunteer. It just comes naturally and I think more people should definitely give it a go.”

Mrs Gilbert will use the £1,000 prize money from The Times/Sternberg Active Life Awards, which is put together by The Times and founder of the Three Faiths Forum Sir Sigmund Sternberg, to visit her daughter Susan who lives in America.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Praise deserved

SYLVIA Gilbert is an example to us all and we commend her for her dedication to helping others.

We are not the only ones to recognise her achievements. As we report today Mrs Gilbert was recently named runner up in a national scheme which rewards older people who have made a significant contribution to society.

And one glance at Mrs Gilbert's track record of voluntary, and other work, shows she is thoroughly deserving of the prize.

The 75-year-old mother and grandmother has been involved in organisations almost too numerous to mention over many years of dedicating herself to civic life.

And she is still as active today in ensuring she does her bit for the community in which she lives.

We are sure Mrs Gilbert would not have sought public praise but we are delighted to be able to report that her commitment has been recognised.