Volunteers dedicated to preserving the areas history have been maned among the country's first heritage champion award winners.

Richard Fletcher, secretary at the hadleigh Society, was nominated by the Suffolk Preservation society in recognition of his work to create an extensive and interactive Local List of Non-Designated Heritage Assets in Hadleigh.

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Also nominated were Nicola and Malcolm Currie for their role in making the Hitcham Church Tower Project such a success. They were put up by – Elizabeth Coughlin and Edward Martin.

Fiona Cairns, director of the Suffolk Preservation Society, speaking at the announcement of the winners of the charity's inaugural Suffolk Heritage Champion Awards, said: "The winners of our first-ever heritage champion awards show just what can be achieved for our local communities by dedicated and well-informed volunteers."

Earlier in the year, the Society decided to recognise the often unsung work of local people and communities looking after Suffolk's local historic places and buildings.

Launched on Suffolk Day, the Society has been delighted by the numbers and quality of nominations that have been received since.

According to Bethany Philbedge, the Society's planning officer: "Communities in Suffolk have a real sense of stewardship and place and want to hand on our precious heritage to future generations in a better condition than when they found it.

"The 13 winning nominations demonstrate that in every corner of Suffolk there are volunteers working hard to look after the precious physical assets that give their community its unique look and feel."

Another three examples from the list of winners help illustrate the range of projects in which Suffolk's volunteer conservationists have been engaged.

The first such example is that of the Trustees of the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House in the centre of Ipswich. Nominated by the Ipswich Society, the Trustees have been recognised for their efforts to restore the Grade I listed building for future generations of local people. The nomination continues: "It is an invaluable addition to the ancient heritage of Ipswich's built environment which is now accessible for all.

Martin Lightfoot, meanwhile, was successfully nominated by the Bury St Edmunds Guildhall Trustees for his lifetime's commitment to many of the county's best known heritage organisations, including: the Pakenham Water Mill, the Unitarian Meeting House, the Bury St Edmunds Guildhall, the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust, the Suffolk Architectural Heritage Trust and the Bury St Edmunds Town Trust.

Finally, David Findley was nominated by Ufford Parish Council for his work in revising the Ufford Heritage Trail and producing an extensive library of detailed information about many sites and buildings in the village. This has enabled local people to discover more about their historic environment and in a format which also engages young people.

Fiona Cairns remarked that: "These three examples, as with all of the award recipients, demonstrate what a sense of community, careful stewardship of heritage buildings and long service can achieve in looking after key elements of local life here in Suffolk. On behalf of the Suffolk Preservation Society, I would like to thank all our winners for making that vital difference.

The winners are due to receive their certificates in early 2022 from Sir Laurie Magnus, chair of Historic England, at a celebration event hosted by Lois Hunt at Sibton Park Orangery.

The full list of winners are:

Richard Fletcher – nominated by the Suffolk Preservation society in recognition of his work to create an extensive and interactive Local List of Non-Designated Heritage Assets in Hadleigh.

Nicola and Malcolm Currie – nominated by Elizabeth Coughlin and Edward Martin for their role in making the Hitcham Church Tower Project such a success.

Tessa Fosdike (on behalf of the Trustees of the Unitarian Meeting House) – nominated by the Ipswich Society for their restoration of the grade 1 listed Unitarian House in Ipswich.

John Popham – nominated by the Bury St Edmunds Society for his long-standing service to the care of the historic environment, including his role as former Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Town Trust; co-ordinator of the Bury St Edmunds Rail Station Group and founder of the BTT/BTEC Level 3 course on Construction and Conservation in the Built Environment at the West Suffolk College.

Marion Welham and James Halsall - nominated by Suffolk Preservation Society Trustee Tony Redman for their work in promoting and protecting Suffolk ecclesiastical heritage.

Martin Lightfoot – nominated by the Bury St Edmunds Guildhall Trustees for his long-standing service to many of the county's heritage organisations, including: the Pakenham Water Mill, the Unitarian Meeting House, the Bury St Edmunds Guildhall, the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust, the Suffolk Architectural Heritage Trust and the Bury St Edmunds Town Trust.

Matt Bell (on behalf of Modece Architects) – nominated the team at Modece for the regeneration of The Old Fox Yard in Stowmarket, a Grade ll listed 16th century coaching inn, making a positive contribution to the historic town of Stowmarket.

Tony Bone – nominated by the Aldeburgh Society for his long-standing contribution to Aldeburgh's heritage. Including his role as chair of the Aldeburgh and District Local History Society, Chair of the Aldeburgh Museum and his contribution as former Chair, now President, of the Aldeburgh Society.

David Findley – nominated by Ufford Parish Council for his work in revising the Ufford Heritage Trail and producing an extensive library of detailed information about many sites and buildings in the village. This has enabled local people to discover more about their historic environment and in a format which also engages young people.

Alan Gilpin – Little Hall gardener – nominated by the Little Hall Management Committee, Lavenham for longstanding service to the care and maintenance of Little Hall and its gardens.

Helen Clarkson-Fieldsend, Corinne Jarvis-Fear and Tony Fear - nominated by Jocelyn Saunders as part of the Bealings Community Hub and Kitchen Group for their work in raising £200,000 towards much needed repairs and upgrades to All Saints Church.

Clare and Michael Kiely – nominated by the Suffolk Preservation Society for their contribution in protecting the crinkle-crankle wall in Great Waldingfield by its inclusion in the Statutory List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest.

Linda and Bernard Rushton - nominated by the Suffolk Preservation Society for their contribution in protecting the crinkle-crankle wall in Great Waldingfield by its inclusion in the Statutory List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest.