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You are here: Home / Community / Meet 90-year-old Audrey Steele – Eastleigh Citizen of Honour

Meet 90-year-old Audrey Steele – Eastleigh Citizen of Honour

May 27, 2019 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

I’m delighted to have met 90-year-old Audrey Steele recently. Audrey Steele was awarded the Citizen of Honour for the Borough of Eastleigh early this month.

Audrey has recently celebrated her 90th birthday. This award recognises the voluntary work she has done for the people in Eastleigh Borough and Brazil.

Audrey Steele, Eastleigh Citizen of Honour
Audrey Steele, Eastleigh Citizen of Honour. Image credit: Eastleigh Borough Council.

Eastleigh Borough Council recognised the excellent community work of two local residents, Sri Kandiah and Audrey Steele. The Council conferred them with a Citizen of Honour award at the annual Mayor making meeting on the 9th of May this year.

Audrey Steele is awarded the Citizen of Honour for the Borough of Eastleigh – well deserved for all her great work for the community pic.twitter.com/IbgifuNGKP

— Eastleigh Borough Council (@EastleighBC) May 9, 2019

Audrey was originally from Bexleyheath, London. She moved to Eastleigh in 1960 with her family. Audrey has two sons and two grandchildren, and one of her grandchildren is with the Royal Air Force, which makes her very proud.

I asked Audrey her words of wisdom. She said, “Make the most of your life and don’t give up.”

At 90, Audrey has some issues with her knees and legs, and also had a minor stroke six years ago, but she said she just “keeps going”. As a Christian, she said it’s important “to be happy in the Lord”.

Audrey Steele encourages all of us to "keep going".
Audrey Steele encourages all of us to “keep going”.

 

Audrey felt very humbled getting the Citizen of Honour award. She said she was simply “doing something that I really love.”

Knitting for victory

Audrey’s fundraising is rooted in her love to help others.

She told me during the war she knitted scarves and mittens for the North Sea convoy. In order to knit, she first had to make lavender bags to sell, to raise money to buy enough wools for her to knit scarves and mittens in support of the war effort.

Yes – knitting for victory! Audrey could knit and she did her bit.

Knitting for victory. image by MabelAmber Pixabay
Knitting for victory

First Eastleigh Scout fundraising

How did Audrey get into fundraising in Eastleigh? Audrey told me her children went to the First Eastleigh Cubs. As the group needed a new building, Audrey with many people ran a stall in the Eastleigh market to raise fund. She said, in those days, Eastleigh market was a lot more vibrant.

She volunteered for the Scouts for many years and raised thousands of pounds for them.

First Eastleigh Scout Group
First Eastleigh Scout Group

Audrey also knitted clothes for new-born babies at Southampton General Hospital neo-natal unit.

Audrey Steele (right) with friends Wendy and Lesley, at Wells Place Centre, Eastleigh Baptist Church.
Audrey Steele (right) with friends Wendy and Lesley, at Wells Place Centre, Eastleigh Baptist Church.

Wells Place Centre

Audrey is also one of the first people to volunteer at Wells Place Centre, part of Eastleigh Baptist Church, when it opened in October 1998.

She has worked in the kitchen for the Eastleigh Baptist Church luncheon club ever since.

Audrey has been a regular volunteer for the Eastleigh Baptist Church
Audrey has been a regular volunteer for the Eastleigh Baptist Church

Orphanage in Brazil

Audrey has visited an orphanage in Brazil twice with other members of Eastleigh Baptist Church. The first time they helped to build a playground and the second time they bought a minivan to give to the orphanage.

Eastleigh Baptist Church raised fifteen thousand pounds for the orphanage and Audrey was a significant member of the fundraising team.

Many congratulations to Audrey for receiving the Citizen of Honour award. It’s truly well deserved.

Citizen of Honour badge for Audrey Steele
Citizen of Honour badge for Audrey Steele

 

Part 2 of this article:

Audrey Steele Received Recognition from Clementine Churchill in 1942

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Tags: celebrations, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, church, community, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Baptist Church, Eastleigh Borough Council, fundraising, good neighbours, inspiration, local interest

About Janet Williams

I created Chandler's Ford Today. I use this website to share our passions and inspiring stories, to build a connected community. We inform, educate and enlighten. We share resources.

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Comments

  1. Chippy Minton says

    May 27, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    A few years ago, my mother was visiting and Audrey stopped to chat with her on her way to help at the Baptist Church luncheon club. She pointed out that most of the people she’d be cooking for were younger than she was!

    Reply
  2. Sarah Guilder says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    I have known Audrey since I was a girl as she was captain of our Girls Brigade at Eastleigh Baptist Church.
    Always helping people since I have known her so wonderful that she has been recognised for all her hard work .

    Reply
    • Janet Williams says

      May 27, 2019 at 10:47 pm

      Hi Sarah,

      Brilliant! Yes Audrey did mention Girls Brigade when I spoke to her. Audrey has certainly impacted on many people’s lives.

      Reply

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