TWENTY years of tireless work for Salisbury Hospice was rewarded when former mayor Derrick Alford was declared winner of the Journal's 2001 City Award on Saturday night.

Mr Alford (74) was among people honoured for their services to the community and local business at the Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry annual dinner and awards ceremony at the City Hall.

A record £26,000 raised by Mr Alford's mayoral appeal fund in 1981 paid for a nurse to care for cancer patients in their own homes.

The following year, that successful appeal led to the formation of a committee to build and fund a hospice. It was opened in 1985 and extended ten years later.

Over the years, Mr Alford, with the support of his wife Vida, has been the driving force behind a team of fundraisers who generate £650,000 every year for the hospice trust.

He retired earlier this year from the board of trustees of the hospice care trust but is continuing his fundraising efforts.