'Karen is a role-model' - winner of the Good Neighbour Award (From Borehamwood Times)

'Karen is a role-model' - winner of the Good Neighbour Award in Borehamwood

2:24pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Natalie O'Neill

A woman who goes above and beyond the call of duty for her neighbours has been awarded for her contribution to community safety.

Karen McKenzie-Cook of Tuxford Close, Borehamwood, received the Good Neighbour Award at the Hertsmere Borough Neighbourhood Watch Conference last Thursday.

As well as a full time job at Allseasons cattery in South Mimms, Mrs McKenzie-Cook has been neighbourhood watch area co-ordinator for Felton Close and Tuxford Close for the past four years.

She routinely checks on her neighbours to make sure they are safe and well. She said: “I watch out for everyone and make sure everyone’s alright. I help one elderly disabled lady by taking her shopping and there’s a man over the road who I help with paying his bills.

"Anybody who needs me, I’m there for them.”

Mrs McKenzie-Cook, 50, has also helped stave off rogue traders in the street and helped paramedics get into the home of one lady who needed urgent care.

Despite the time and effort Mrs McKenzie-Cook puts into looking out for her neighbours – being honoured with the Good Neighbour Award still came as a shock to her.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it. It’s lovely to be recognised and to feel my neighbours know they can rely on me. I'm very, very happy.”

Hertsmere Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Johnson said: “We rely on our neighbourhood watch members who are the eyes and ears of the community in which they live.  They supplement policing and the work of the Community Safety Partnership.

“Not only are they able to let us know about suspicious behaviour but they also instil a sense of community pride which has a knock-on effect of improving residents’ quality of life.

“Karen is a role-model and her voluntary contribution is invaluable.”