News
Shropshire Star gives unsung heroes a Great Big Thank You
Shropshire’s unsung heroes were given a Great Big Thank You on behalf of our readers at a prestigious awards ceremony organised by the Shropshire Star.
Radio personality Eric Smith outlined the stories of 11 remarkable individuals at the Great Big Thank You awards in Telford.
The winners of 11 different categories – voted for by readers – were presented with their awards over afternoon tea at Hadley Park House Hotel.
Guests sat in awe as they were told tales about the winners’ courage, kindness and selfless devotion to the communities in which they lived.
They ranged from a five-year-old boy to community stalwarts still working hard in their 80s.
Each winner was presented with a trophy hand made by the British Ironwork Centre at Oswestry, which had been donated free of charge.
Shropshire Star editor-in-chief Martin Wright said it had been a privilege to hold the event for the second year running.
“When you hear what these people have achieved, many of them in the face of severe hardship and adversity, it makes you realise how privileged we are to live and work in such a wonderful place,” he said.
The winners for 10 of the categories were chosen by a public vote of readers, after a shortlist of 28 was printed in the paper in July.
The 11th winner, for Outstanding Bravery, was selected by Mr Wright as the editor’s choice.
First up was 80-year-old Doug Boulter from Shrewsbury, who took the Fundraiser of the Year title.
Over the past 10 years Doug, helped by a loyal team of volunteers, has raised more than £100,000 for good causes, including the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, the Midland Air Ambulance, the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Gobowen, and Pontesbury Surgery.
He was presented with his accolade by Chris Lindsey of sponsor Denso.
Doug said he was amazed when he heard that he had won the award.
“I’m honoured that so many people voted for me,” he said.
The Environmental Champion award went to Penny and Dominic Jones-Parry and their friend Charlie Price, who spent their Easter holidays picking up litter for the entire length of the Great Glen Way.
Paula Reynolds from Shire Living presented the Grandparent of the Year award to Suman Bala who is described as ‘grandmother to Telford’.
Eric, presenter of BBC Radio Shropshire’s breakfast show, told guests that even bus drivers and cabbies know her as ‘Grandmother’, and about her devotion to grandsons Rahul, 14, and Swastik, who is seven.
Volunteer of the Year title went to Paulette Bruce who, along with husband Bob, has been running Telford Gateway Club for 32 years.
After being presented with her trophy, she said: “It’s a great honour.”
This year’s awards featured a category for Farming Community Champion for the first time.
Mike Shepherd, of sponsor Whittingham Riddell, presented the inaugural award to Brenda Sturrock.
As co-ordinator of Shropshire Rural Support Network, Brenda has encouraged and organised a team of volunteers to support those in need of help at times of crisis.
Nigel Downs, of sponsor Choices, presented the Carer of the Year award to Teresa Ball who looked after her father for 26 years after a stroke left him paralysed.
There was rapturous applause for the Young Star award, which went to 11-year-old Harlie McGowan.
He lost his mother Sonia in 2011 and received support from a counsellor at Hope House Children’s Hospice.
For the past three years he has worked to repay the charity for its help by raising money and helping other children also experiencing difficult times.
Carey Bloomer from Marches Care presented the Good Neighbour award to Joyce Emmerton, who is is well known to people living at the Ridgway retirement complex in High Ercall near Telford.
Another new category for 2019 was the Teacher of the Year category, which went to Rob Davies, a PE teacher from Southall School in Dawley, Telford.
The school provides specialist support for children with disabilities, and Rob was nominated for boosting a boy’s confidence in playing football and learning how to be a team player.
The Community Champion award, presented by Alison Fisher of Wrekin Housing Group, went to Mandie Mulloy for her work chairing the YMCA in Wellington.
The final award, presented by Amanda Round of Hadley Park House Hotel, was also met with huge applause.
The Outstanding Bravery award went to five-year-old Zac Oliver, who was the editor’s choice for the way he had fought off a rare type of leukaemia.The 2019 winners
Doug Boulter – Fundraiser of the Year
Doug, 80, has raised £100,000 for charities over the past decade, including the Lingen Davies Cancer Care Fund, Midland Air Ambulance, and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Gobowen.
Penny & Dominic Jones-Parry and Charlie Price
– Environmental Champions
Penny, 11, her brother Dominic, 10, and their friend Charlie, also 10, spent their Easter holidays removing litter from the 79-mile Great Glen Way across the Scottish Highlands.
Suman Bala – Grandparent of the Year
Suman is described by her son Councillor Rajesh Mehta as the ‘grandmother of Telford’, who is even known as ‘grandmother’ by the bus drivers and cabbies. She still visits the nursery school which her grandsons used to attend, where she is known by everyone as ‘Nanny’.
Paulette Bruce – Volunteer of the Year
Known for her infectious energy, Paulette has been the driving force behind Telford Gateway Club for 32 years, organising activities for adults with learning disabilities.
Brenda Sturrock – Farming Community Champion
For 12 years, Brenda was the voice at the end of the phone for people in rural areas who were going through difficult times. She recently stepped down as co-ordinator for Shropshire Rural Support Network.
Teresa Ball – Carer of the Year
Teresa cared for her paralysed father for 26 years after he suffered a massive stroke. Following the death of her mother she moved back to the family home in Ketley, Telford, to look after him. Sadly, he died earlier this year.
Harlie McGowan – Young Star
Harlie, 11, has spent the past three years helping youngsters cared for by Hope House Children’s Hospice, as a thank-you for the support the hospice gave him when his mother Sonia died in 2011. He makes Easter and Christmas hampers for the youngsters, raises funds, and has collected DVDs for them.
Joyce Emmerton – Good Neighbour Award
Described as a ‘great tenant’ of Ridgway retirement complex in High Ercall, near Telford, Joyce is always willing to help out with events and activities, helps her neighbours look after their pets if they go on holiday or unwell, and walks them back from events at the complex.
Rob Davies – Teacher of the Year
Rob, or ‘Mr D’ as he is known by pupils, was praised for his work building up the confidence of children with disabilities and other special needs. His positive attitude is a great example to youngsters.
Mandie Mulloy – Community Champion
The chief executive of Wellington YMCA, Mandie is known for her tireless work for a number of good causes in both Telford and Shrewsbury, as well as helping countless young people in the county.
Zac Oliver – Outstanding Bravery
Zac, five, fought back after being diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia. People raised £500,000 for Zac to receive lifesaving treatment in the US, and the youngster is now cancer-free.
