On Thursday 11^th June the Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2009 was awarded to the Association of Drainage Authorities and the Wildlife Conservation Partnership for "Operation Barn Owl".

Organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the presentations by the finalists in the Lincolnshire Environmental Award and Lincolnshire Young Environmentalist Award 2009 took place throughout the day. 

At the evening Gala dinner, when the winning entries were announced, chair of the judges Professor David Bellamy said: "I'm very proud to be back with you today.  You are showing us a way to stitch the biodiversity of our world back together.  It's absolutely amazing; all the entries are of a very high standard."  On the Operation Barn Owl project, he commented: "What they have done for barn owls is incredible."

Thomas Bertolotti, aged 15, is the second young person to win RC Hull Paragon’s Young Person of Achievement Award.  This is a financial award made to assist a young person in Hull to further their pursuit of excellence in a chosen sport, music and the arts or an academic field.

The presentation took place at the club’s Charter lunch on Sunday 31^st May at which Thomas provided musical entertainment to the delight of all those present including DG Mohammad who particularly enjoys cello music. 

Thomas, an accomplished Cellist currently studying at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester played with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for the first time in spring performing at prestigious venues around the country which culminates in the summer with a Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall. 

Applicants for the award are required to submit a written application and make an oral presentation, detailing what they require the money for and how it would enable them to achieve their ambition.  

In his application Thomas explained “My ambition is to become a cellist and my parents do their best to finance the necessary courses and equipment. I have recently been told ….. that my bow which has already had to be repaired, is not good enough for the standard that I am now at. My parents are consequently saving up to try to buy me a better bow. The award would be an extremely useful contribution towards this”