THE founder of Bexhill Maritime has been honoured for his contribution to the community.
Raymond Konyn has been given a Mayor’s Civic Award by Bexhill Town Council for his many years of service to the town.
It was presented by Town Mayor Councillor Lynn Brailsford at a public meeting.
Mr Konyn was also the founder of Bexhill Heritage and is a trustee of Bexhill Old Town Preservation Society.
He said: “It was a surprise and an honour to receive this award, flourished by a 15-piece-band fanfare and the Bexhill Town Crier.
“The Mayor’s Civic Award lapel pin is charming too. These awards are more about teamwork rather than just one person’s accolade, and I’m really just representing an excellent Bexhill Maritime team here.
“It was so good to see several very deserving recipients, and there are plenty of unsung heroes that I know of, who will no doubt be eligible for next year’s Town Council nominations.”
Mr Konyn’s latest role is as founder and chairman of the charity Bexhill Maritime which plans to build a coastal environment centre on the seafront.
He was the person who had the idea of bringing the Royal Sovereign Lantern Tower to the town to be a focal point of the centre.
This was achieved in December and the tower is now in storage awaiting the construction of the building.
The grand plan is to build a coastal Maritime Environment Centre in the town’s East Parade with the lantern as the centrepiece.
It is envisaged the environment centre will incorporate a permanent site for education about climate change and the marine environment with information forming part of the display at the centre.
In addition, it will act as a showcase for various forms of renewable energy as well as a display space which will have maritime artefacts, including tributes to those who have connections to the sea and the tower itself.
Bexhill Maritime is a charity which aims to educate the people of Bexhill and surrounding areas about the effects of climate change on the maritime environment. It promotes the protection the marine, coastal, physical and natural environment.
