One Nation. One People.
Hertsmere, United Kingdom – 19th April 2026
The Mayor of Hertsmere, Councillor Alpha Bird Collins, hosted the borough’s Civic Dinner and Awards, bringing together community representatives, volunteers, civic leaders and other guests to celebrate individuals and organisations whose work has made a positive contribution to life in Hertsmere.
The annual Civic Awards recognise people and groups who live or work in the borough and who voluntarily give their time and energy to support their communities. At this year’s ceremony, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree, Mayor Collins presented eight Civic Awards to recipients from across Hertsmere.
The event marked an important moment in Mayor Collins’s 2025/26 mayoral year. He was elected Mayor of Hertsmere at the council’s annual meeting on 14 May 2025, succeeding Councillor Richard Butler. During his mayoral year, Collins undertook a programme of community, cultural and civic engagements across the borough.
For the Liberian community, the occasion carries an additional significance. Councillor Alpha Bird Collins is of Liberian origin and has maintained longstanding links with Liberia. His public biography records that he served for 20 years as a Goodwill Ambassador, lawyer and diplomat for FIFA for Liberia, and that he has worked with UK charitable contacts to secure books and educational materials for schools in Liberia.
His election as Mayor of Hertsmere in May 2025 was also reported in Liberia, with The New Dawn describing his election as a notable achievement for a Liberian-origin civic leader in the United Kingdom.
This connection provides a meaningful example of the contribution of Liberians and people of Liberian heritage to civic and public life in the United Kingdom, while also demonstrating how relationships developed in Britain can continue to support educational and community initiatives in Liberia.
Speaking about the Civic Awards, Mayor Collins reflected on the people he had encountered during his year in office, highlighting residents, volunteers, local business owners and community leaders who contribute to Hertsmere in different ways. He described the awards as an opportunity to express gratitude and recognise the hard work and contributions of the recipients.
The Civic Dinner therefore served not only as a formal mayoral occasion but also as a celebration of volunteering, community service, diversity and civic participation across Hertsmere.
For Liberia and its diaspora in the United Kingdom, the event is particularly noteworthy as Mayor Collins’s mayoral year brought a visible Liberian connection into the civic life of a UK borough, while his continuing interest in educational initiatives in Liberia creates opportunities for links between communities in the two countries.
The Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in the United Kingdom may therefore wish to recognise the occasion as an example of the achievements and civic engagement of Liberians and people of Liberian heritage living in Britain.
Press here to view the picture gallery for the event