Nottingham Liberal Democrats Shortlisted for Award

7.29.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Sep 2006

Delegates from Nottingham are looking forward to their conference in Brighton next week more than usual... because they have been shortlisted for an award.

The Penhaligon Award is given every year to a Lib Dem constituency party that has increased its membership significantly. The trophy is presented during conference events on Wednesday.

Four local parties have been shortlisted: Dunfermline, Rochdale, Camden and Nottingham City. Of the four, Dunfermline and Rochdale have Lib Dem MPs.

The four groups will all make presentations to a panel of judges including Lib Dem MPs on Monday evening. Alex Foster, chair of Nottingham Lib Dems will be making the case for Nottingham.

"We've seen good increases in our membership this year," said Cllr Foster, "But we've also spent our election-free year in 2006 working with our members. We've had lots of different events, from conferences in the International Community Centre to 'Curry and Quiz Nites' and 'Liberal Drinks' in a city-centre pub. Our bring and share picnic in Wollaton Park was something that will stick in my mind for a long time - it ended abruptly when a storm broke, the skies opened and Wollaton Hall got struck by lightning! We all got soaked."

ENDS

Cllr Foster will be in Brighton from Saturday to Thursday. He will be podcasting for www.libdemvoice.org and blogging at www.alexfoster.me.uk

The judging event is in Surrey Suite 2, Brighton Hilton Metropole at 8pm, Monday 18th September

The award will be presented to the winning local party in the Main Hall of the Conference Centre at 11:10 on Wednesday 20th September.