MAY I offer to group Daily Echo Editor Toby Granville and to all the hard working, smiling personnel who appeared in the great photograph recently.

My sincere congratulations on their effort which resulted in the Daily Echo’s successful achievement to become Daily Newspaper of the Year. Well done!

For many years you have supported the community work of the former Bournemouth councillors Harry Cutler, who unfortunately is now in the Merstone Nursing Home in Boscombe and myself Phil Carey, both who were awarded the MBE for services to the community.

I feel it only right at this time to acknowledge our success came by hard work and the indisputable support given by many Daily Echo reporters over the past years.

Many local residents will remember the projects carried out by Harry and myself in Boscombe to improve many worrying factors.

The Crescent problems and drug users, the demolition of the church building which reporters and I discovered was a drug centre, ensuring the former bank at the Crescent did not become a public house, but housing.

Harry and I were the leaders of developing the now popular Boscombe Gardens, children’s activities at Boscombe pier.

It was hard work but we got rid of the villains and drug users who used the top area of Boscombe gardens.

Just a few of our many activities only achieved by support of the Daily Echo reporters.

PHIL CAREY MBE, Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth