An inaugural award in memory of Councillor Frances Moseley was presented to the founder of the Alpha Road Residents’ Association.

Derrick Johnson, 69, ex-chairman of the Kingston Federation of Residents, received a Frances Moseley Community Award at at the Guildhall on June 27.

Richard Grosvenor, federation secretary, said: “Both the council and the federation were looking for some way to recognise Frances Moseley’s achievements and perpetuate her memory, and rewarding the most community-spirited resident is a good way of doing it.”

The award will be presented every January from next year, to a resident nominated for services to their community in the previous year.

But this year it was presented for lifetime achievement. Mr Johnson, who only found out about the award two days before the presentation, said: “I am very excited to be awarded the Frances Moseley award, because Frances was a councillor we worked closely with.

"I am very sorry she has passed on.

“We had a lot of time and respect for her at the federation.”

Mr Johnson moved into the School Lane estate in the 1980s, with his wife and two sons.

He formed one of the borough’s first residents’ associations.

He then founded the Alpha Road Residents’ Association, before starting up the Kingston Federation of Residents in 1988, becoming its vice-chairman.

He served as chairman for over 20 years.

Among his achievements are gaining fully-funded independence for the federation, and expanding the number of residents’ associations in the borough to over 20.

Mr Johnson said: "I think there is a different climate nowadays to when we first got started.

"We have moved on a lot over the last few years, and, if we have accomplished that, I am very pleased."