Trio of inspiring Gosport women Lily, Brenda and Alison recognised with awards

Talented GB athlete Lily Baggott has been named Gosport's Young Citizen of the Year for inspiring people of all ages to enjoy athletics.

Lily picked up her award at a ceremony where the first ever Graham Hewitt Volunteer of the Year Award went to Brenda Hadfield, while the Gosport Citizen of the Year was awarded to Alison Roast.

Lily is aspiring to compete in the 2028 Olympics sprint events. Alongside hours of training for her own career, Lily runs Runner Beans, a hugely popular running club for young people.

Recognising the low participation rates of particularly young girls in sport, Lily has a passion for inspiring children of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of running while having fun.

Lily was also pivotal in working with Gosport Borough Council to create a new running track at Gosport Park, where her Runner Beans train, which is used by anyone wanting to run on a marked 400m track.

This year saw a new volunteer of the year award, named after the late borough councillor, mayor and Honorary Freeman Graham Hewitt.

It went to Brenda Hadfield who has run Gosport Partners Through Pain, a group that helps local people to manage pain, for over 15 years. The group offers a welcoming space for pain sufferers to meet and support one another, hears from medical experts, and enjoy trips and activities thanks to Brenda's fundraising. Brenda was unable to attend the ceremony so her award was accepted by a friend on her behalf.

This year's Citizen of the Year went to Alison Roast for all the work she does in Lee-on-the-Solent, where she lives. Alison has been an active member of the Lee Residents' Association (LRA) since 1995, becoming chair in 2004, and only stepping down this year for health reasons.

Alison organises many community events, bringing organisations like the police and coastguard to speak with residents. She has been an influential member of the LRA planning team for over 30 years, expertly representing Lee's complex planning issues to the council's planning team.

New Gosport Mayor, Cllr Kirsten Bradley said:

"I'm honoured that my first act as mayor is to hand out these awards to three extremely deserving women.

"Lily, Brenda and Alison, thank you for everything you've done, and continue to do to support your communities and the wider Gosport area. Your passion and goodwill help so many people and show how much of a difference each of us can make."

Published: 20 May 2025