Two men from Penryn and Porthleven are among more than 20 Cornish citizens to be recognised for service to their community at the county's recent Civic Awards ceremony.

Councillor Ann Kerridge, chairman of Cornwall Council, presented the awards to at a reception at County Hall, with recipients coming from all over Cornwall after being nominated by their local Cornwall Councillor for achieving great things or going above and beyond what is expected of them.

Roger Reynolds of Penryn, who spent many years working as a bank manager in the town, was nominated by Cornwall Councillor Mary May for looking after the financial affairs of local groups and organisation. Although retired for many years he still provides guidance, drawing on his many years of experience as a bank manager.

Roger has been treasurer of the Town Council’s local trust, Samaritans Penryn Group, and the Rotary Club of Penryn; for over 20 years in some instances.

Hi citation said: "Balancing the books is not always easy, nor is investing at difficult times to give clubs maximum returns on their charitable funds. Small towns like Penryn need their clubs and organisations to be accountable for money collected in their community, Roger as treasurer, has certainly advised, filled out forms and balanced the books accordingly."

Roger has also been heavily involved with the Scouts in Cornwall, and has inspired many young people to achieve their best.

Mrs May said when nominating Roger: “I think it’s time that we invested in Roger with a reward to say ‘thank you’ for the many hours and years he has given to the community with a Cornwall Civic Award.”

Johnny Austin from Porthleven was nominated by Cornwall Councillor Bert Biscoe because of his service to music in Cornwall and his work with the county's young musicians.

He was desrcibed as someone who had "given unstintingly of his musicianship, his time, his skills and knowledge, to inspire and support the young," especially generations of musicians coming through the Cornish Music Service.

Mr Biscoe said: "When I was cavorting around the 1970s rock circuit with the Brainiac Five and other bands there were always posters featuring Johnny Austin. People in the business spoke of him with respect and affection.

"When I joined the council and found out about the Cornwall Music Service, there was that name again - people spoke of generosity, of long hours rehearsing groups and bands to explore the meaning and

techniques of jazz. Last summer, at my daughter's graduation, with yet another young generation milling around, there was Johnny Austin, on the bandstand at the Princess Pavilion, playing as if it was Carnegie Hall - crisp, swinging, clear as a bell and timelessly cool.

"He has been one of the founders of Cornwall's worldwide reputation for musicianship, for nurturing talent, for helping those who experience misfortune – always inspiring and spurring on the dance - Johnny Austin lives the truth that music is always about that elusive blue note - only for him it's not elusive, it’s a way of life."

The Award winners ranged from those who kept their local areas free of litter and weeds to those raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

Mrs Kerridge said: "Cornwall has an extremely proud tradition of community endeavour, and as many of those who contribute in this way are so humble it is by occasions such as this that we can take the opportunity to recognise what they do for us and say ‘thank you’."