Bridport's historic charter wasn't the only thing that was celebrated at the town's annual charter fair.

The event's awards - the Bridport Charter Fair Award and the Above and Beyond Trophy - were presented to deserving people and groups by Bridport mayor, councillor Ian Bark.

He praised the staff and volunteers at Ammonite Health, formerly Bridport Medical Centre, the recipients of the Bridport Charter Fair Award, for "the work they have done over and above the norm in caring for the people of Bridport during these most challenging times".

The award was accepted by Dr Andrew Finucane, who arrived on a trishaw recently acquired by Cycling Without Age Bridport to offer rides around the town to the elderly.

He said: "Bridport medical centre gave 58,000 vaccines, which would not have been possible without a large number of people.

"We did one super Saturday where we managed to vaccinate 2,500 people in one day and Bridport and the wider area had one of the highest vaccination rates and one of the fastest populations to be vaccinated in the entire country."

The Above and Beyond Trophy was presented to David Powell, who has dedicated a lot of time and effort to the youth and music in the area, has been involved with local schools as a governor and headteacher and has been instrumental in ensuring Bridport became the first Rights Respecting town in the UK. He has now retired to the Cotswolds.

Cllr Bark said: "David's passion for music and young people has enriched the lives of so many here in the Bridport area. His passion and drive are a great loss to the youth of Bridport.

"I'm thrilled to present the Above and Beyond Trophy as a mark of the esteem un which we hold you in our community and a token of our thanks for all you have don't to enrich the lives of so many young people."

As well as the awards, live music filled Bucky Doo Square and local groups, charities and organisations offered cakes, gifts and wares in Bridport Arts Centre.

Arthur Woodgate, Bridport Charter Fair chairman, said: "We've already had positive feedback from just about everyone who took part in any way. Inevitably there are things that can be improved, but it was good to be able to once again showcase a cross-section of the creativity, the interests, passions and pastimes of our community, involving its youngest through to its somewhat more mature members. And, as one participant put it, 'all in all it was just good to be there'."

Arthur would like to give special thanks to Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport Town Council, Daryl Chambers, Dave Swaffield, David Powell, Dee Fenton, Ian Bark, Jason Foote, Jill Beed, John Collingwood, Mick Smith, Terri Foxwell, Will Austin and Nick Goode.

Bridport Charter Fair celebrates the charter granted more than 700 years ago by King Henry II to allow the town to hold a market and Bridport's Citizen Charter, reflecting the principles of 1998 Human Rights Act, and confirming Bridport becoming the UK's first Rights Respecting town.

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