THIS YEAR’S annual town meeting saw Petersfield Mayor Jamie Matthews present awards to a company which puts on popular festivals, a dedicated charity fundraiser and a young actress.

As well as Petersfield town councillors, about 60 residents attended the meeting in the Rose Room of the Festival Hall on Wednesday, April 25.

It got under way with a report from Cllr Matthews on town council activities during the past year, and some of its upcoming projects, one of which is the Heath pond’s bank stabilisation project.

He also introduced a spokesman from Foster Wilson architects, who gave a presentation on the proposed refurbishment and upgrade of the Festival Hall complex.

Each year medals are given by the council to people who it is felt have contributed to the town.

This year Cllr Matthews presented them to Ben Errey and Steve Jacobs of Hometown Festivals, for organising festivals in the town.

He also presented an award to Jeremy Mitchell, for his work with The Rosemary Foundation, Petersfield Museum, and the Edward Thomas Foundation.

The annual Sir Daniel Day Lewis Award for a young person with outstanding theatrical talent was presented to Freya Solley, a Year 11 pupil at Ditcham Park School, for her work with Petersfield Youth Theatre (PYT), including the support she has given to five-year-old and seven-year-old PYT members.

Town council spokesman Steve Field said: “The evening went very well, and many of the audience stayed after the meeting to talk to councillors.”