A FERNHURST couple are celebrating winning an award for their voluntary work from the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

Rob and Karen Unwin came top in the ‘Heartbeat of the Club’ category at the NatWest ‘Oscas’, or Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards.

They run a flourishing junior section at Fernhurst, which sees the recreation ground full of children every weekend in the spring and summer.

“Karen and I are both extremely honoured to have been recognised by Sussex for the work we do for the Juniors at Fernhurst,” Rob said.

“However it is a team effort and none of what we offer this community would be possible without the support of all the volunteers.

“We look forward to next season and continuing the development of the juniors at Fernhurst.”

Numbers are now translating into results, with league titles awarded for the Under 9s and Under 11s this year, and four Fernhurst boys playing in district and county teams.

This year has been something of a golden season for the club, with a very strong run in I’Anson Division II and promotion from Division Six for the new ’second’ team.

Rob and Karen’s three sons Joe, Jude and Hamish are also cricket mad and have had successful seasons in various FCC senior and junior teams.

Cricket club chairman Derek Pope said: “This is tremendously well-deserved by a very hard-working couple. Fernhurst’s future is in very good hands.”