We are asking our readers to look out for the unsung heroes of the borough.

The Times Group has teamed up with LBC 1152AM radio station to bring you the New Year's Day Parade Roll of Honour awards. It will honour the little heroes of everyday life they might be friends or neighbours who have faced trials and triumphed, who help others as part of their job, or who have saved lives in a single moment of sharp thinking.

Nominees can be young or old, but they should live or work in Barnet. All that is needed is for you to fill in the form below and send it to: Roll of Honour, Times Group, 71 Church Road, London NW4 4DN; or email us at timesnews@london.newsquest.co.uk

Winners will be invited to a special reception in London in December.

This week we talk to nominee Richard Wakefield, a magazine editor, the inspiration behind a small art gallery and chairman of one of the borough's largest residents' associations.

For nearly 20 years, Mr Wakefield, of Hampstead Way, Temple Fortune, has been the editor and main contributor of Suburb News, the 14-page, full colour quarterly magazine for Hampstead Garden Suburb. He opened the Garden Suburb Gallery in Hampstead Way around seven years ago and was chairman of Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents' Association for six years, before stepping down last March.

Susie Gregson, of Wild Hatch, hailed Mr Wakefield as a champion for the area, and has nominated him as one of Barnet's heroes for the New Year's Day Parade Roll of Honour awards.

She said: "He has single-handedly kept the fire of the local residents' association going and I think everyone would agree the two great things he has done for the area are the glossy magazine and the wonderful little gallery which is a focal point for the community. He has a real passion for the area."

Mr Wakefield, who is 67, was a little taken-aback by the nomination, but agreed he dedicated his time to working for the area. He said: "I enjoy it and I am very keen to keep the community spirit of Hampstead Garden Suburb alive, which I think is all helped by the newspaper, the gallery and the residents' association itself."

Mr Wakefield is not stopping there. His latest project is setting up a farmers' market in Temple Fortune in the near future.

October 2, 2002 18:00