The Alton Society has given its Outstanding Services to Alton Award for 2023 to Ian Dane.

This award is given by The Alton Society to those who have worked hard to make a difference in the town, through work, voluntary activity or both.

A special panel is set up each year to pick a winner from those nominated.

It includes members of the society, other members of the community and former winners of the award.

Ian Dane has recently retired as the manager of the Alton Food Bank.

For five years he managed a team of more than 50 volunteers. Throughout the Covid pandemic, when the Alton distribution centre was closed, Ian organised regular deliveries of food to vulnerable families.

The number of those in need doubled, with 635 referrals and a total of 1,808 people fed in the financial year 2021-22.

Ian carried out the manager’s role with a mixture of kindness, good humour and efficiency.

He continues to play an advisory role and an active one, volunteering in the warehouse and the distribution centre. He has become a trustee of Alton Food Bank.

Ian also runs the town’s Cub Scout Group, a voluntary task which he has performed for more than 20 years.

He is a trustee of the Grain House Trust, overseeing the commercial side of the project, and an active supporter – through the Alton Climate Action Network – of the Gumbi Education Fund. This is a fund that seeks to improve life in one of the poorest villages in Malawi, promoting self-help in growing local produce for local consumption.

The Alton Society said: “A resident of Alton for 28 years, Ian is a huge asset to our town and a worthy winner of this year’s award.”

Ian will be presented with it at the society’s annual general meeting in the Alton Maltings Centre on November 4 at 11.30am.