Lifetime Achievement Award

A LEIGH business man and community stalwart has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

Ron Sverdloff, who lives in the Old Town, received a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) in recognition of his contribution to the city through a number of volunteering efforts and inclusive activities.

Mr Sverdloff commented on how surprised he was to receive the news of his award in June this year: “I received an email out of the blue to say that I had been given this award.

“I had to think about it for a bit as it didn’t seem real and when it sunk in l was absolutely blown away!”

Over the past 30 years, Mr Sverdloff has developed a number of initiatives to benefit residents, the first being his Traditional Touring Club for cyclists and walkers.

Tragically, this club nearly collapsed after a disaster that saw his dear friend paralysed in an accident.

Mr Sverdloff explains: “one of our cyclists was paralysed following an accident in France when a lorry driver fell asleep and crashed into the back of our minibus.”

This club, and his development of specific mobility equipment for his friend, led Mr Sverdloff to set up the now well-known and thriving Southend-based mobility business Lifestyle and Mobility, which consistently helps beat records in the use of mobility equipment for users.

This was most recently seen in the story, featured in this edition of Leigh News, about a man with Spinal Muscular Atrophy who has scaled Mount Snowden.

In the early days of his mobility equipment business, Mr Sverdloff also initiated the Scooter Club: “Once a month I took my elderly customers out for a free day trip with their scooters in a mini-coach as a special thank you for being a customer,” says Ron.

The Scooter Club was also the name for the then-fledgling mobility business: “the name had to change because people kept calling me up to fix their Vespa scooters!” laughs Mr Sverdloff.

The club still sees Mr Sverdloff take elderly customers out for a day trip once a month, something that has been a real joy both for Mr Sverdloff, and the members.

“I met so many interesting people on those day trips, including a Polish spitfire pilot and a Lancaster bomber rear gunner who had defended our country in the Second World War.

“I was very honoured to meet them – and many more.”

Not busy enough with these activities, Mr Sverdloff is also the founder and continued lead of the popular Lower Thames Rowing Club (LTRC) which has been going strong for two decades.

Mr Sverdloff explains: “I’ve always loved the water and that led me to starting up a great rowing club in 2004 the Lower Thames Rowing Club – that club has also grown out of all proportions!”

Membership of the friendly club is, as Mr Sverdloff suggests, consistently growing, as people learn of the benefits of local engagement both in the community and on the terroir of the estuary.

Members, of all abelites, enjoy the group’s regular rows round the waters of Britain, as well open days for people experiencing mental health difficulties, and charity rows supporting ambitious challenges. “All of this, I think, is the background to what has led to my award,” adds Mr Sverdloff.

For more information on LTRC, visit: https://www.lowerthames.co.uk/app/club/v1/home

REPORT BY SOPHIE SLEIGH-JOHNSON

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