Citizen Awards
The Honoured Citizen and Junior Good Citizen Awards have been running for many years in Diss. The awards are given to nominated individuals who go above and beyond to help the community. ​
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Nominees can include people who run a club, raise funds for charities or who are always there to help neighbours or vulnerable people in the community. Nominations must include two proposers, both of whom should be residents of Diss (for Honoured Citizen this cannot be a relative).
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At the Annual Town Meeting on 30th April 2025, two longstanding community champions, Richard Pither and Alan Franks, were recipients of this year's Honoured Citizen Awards for their exceptional service to the town.
At 82, Richard Pither was recognised for decades of voluntary work and civic involvement. Since arriving in Diss in 1963, he has played key roles in the Young Farmers, Diss Rugby Club, and served as a town councillor. As a Rotary Club president, he also helped launch the Diss Community Woodland Project, leading to the creation of Quaker Wood in 2010.
Alan Franks was celebrated for his leadership in major community initiatives. He helped raise over £120,000 for the Corn Hall refurbishment in 2013 and supported the wider Heritage Triangle regeneration. He also founded the Diss Cyclathon, raising over £10,000 for local charities, and was instrumental in the transformation of Beales into No.8 Market Place.
Diss Town Council congratulates both award recipients for their outstanding contributions and lasting impact on the community. Very well deserved!
Recipients names will be inscribed on the Roll of Honour Board in
the Council Chamber at the Corn Hall.
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View the regulations for nominating.
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2024 Winners
Last year’s award winners were Mary Cotton and Mike Garnham, both members of the Diss & District Royal British Legion branch, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.​
We've Been Recognising Our Community Heroes Since 1994...
Honoured Citizens
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Charles Gardener (1994), Henry Judd (1995), Arthur Wood JP (1996), David Bell & Reginald Wright (1998), Gladys Hancock (1999), Jack Lee (2000), Denis Clarke (2001), The Revd. Ben Sasada (2002), Geoffrey Tebble (2004), Francis Bradley (2005), Michael Booty (2006), Clifford Bird & Stuart Ballantyne (2007), Sue Brazier (2008), Basil Abbott (2009), Anne Dutton (2010), Doreen Collins (2011), Alan Rowe (2012), William (aka Billy) Turner (2013), no nominations received in 2014, Suzanne Kayne (2015), Pete Gillings (2016), Harold Rackham & Elizabeth Dewhurst (2017), Jamie Scales & Jack Bell (2018), Jim Bidwell (2019), Andrew Rackham (2020), Anne Beckett-Allen (2021), George Waterman & Lou Hines (2022), Gabrielle Pagan (2023), Mary Cotton & Mike Garnham (2024)
Junior Good Citizens
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Laura Turner (2002), Jonathan Chambers & Claire Rogers (2007), Alice Baillie (2008), Jordan Longshaw, Robin Lemon, Archie Hewitt, Alfie Hewitt (2009), Ryan Howell (2011), Aston Taylor (2012), Shelby Baker (2013), Thomas Kembery (2014), Ellen Nicholas (2015), Owen Leeder (2016), no nominations received in 2017, Rheuben Botwright & Kieran Murphy (2018), Zinhle Moyo (2019), Callum Doe (2020), Lily Mills (2021), Plamena Marinova (2022).​
Honorary Aldermen
Cyril Grace (2005), Glyn Walden (2012)
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Freedom of the Town
The Royal Anglian Regiment (2012)
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Honorary Freeman of the Town of Diss
Sgt Duncan Slater (2018)​​