SIR Alan Haselhurst has won a very prestigious award thanks to a nomination he received from local sight loss charity, Support 4 Sight. He was presented with a Charity Champion Award by Esther Rantzen CBE at an awards ceremony in London. The awards, wh

SIR Alan Haselhurst has won a very prestigious award thanks to a nomination he received from local sight loss charity, Support 4 Sight.

He was presented with a Charity Champion Award by Esther Rantzen CBE at an awards ceremony in London.

The awards, which are named ePolitix Charity Champion Awards, aim to show the positive side of politics and give local voluntary organisations the chance to nominate MPs who have supported their work.

Support 4 Sight nominated Sir Alan as the Older Persons Charity Champion for the work he has done for them and for his role with the local Council for Voluntary Services in Uttlesford.

Madeleine Cassidy, director of the charity, said: "We were very proud to nominate Sir Alan because of the assistance he gave us when we relocated our centre for visually impaired people last year. We are delighted that he has won and know that our members will join with us in congratulating him on his success and work in our local community".

Despite stiff competition from two other MPs on the shortlist, Lynne Featherstone and Steve Webb, Sir Alan was judged to be the parliamentarian who has done the most to address issues concerning the welfare of older people in the UK.

Sir Alan recently called into Support 4 Sight and met with Paul Atkins, centre and volunteer manager, to see the centre and show the Charity Champion Trophy.

Mr Atkins said: "It was very kind of Sir Alan to call in and take an interest in our work with people coping with sight loss. We encourage anyone in West Essex that is experiencing sight loss to contact Support 4 Sight for help and advice."

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