Wisbech celebrates its Unsung Heroes with annual awards
A church hall was filled with applause and cheering as one Fenland town celebrated its Unsung Heroes with a presentation evening recognising some amazing residents.
Hosted by Ian Larkin with the Wisbech Unsung Heroes Awards presented by Wisbech mayor Peter Human assisted by the deputy mayor Sidney Imafidon, the evening, at St Peter’s Church Hall, saw eight trophies handed out including a new one for this year – the Mayor’s Award.
Among the winners was a nine-year-old schoolgirl who garnered the most nominations of anyone on the night for her loving dedication and friendship to a classmate and his brothers.
Shyla Brown not only waits for her friend Harrison Dodkin every morning to walk him into Peckover School, she has also raised well over £2,000 for Harrison, who along with his older brother Finley has CLN3 Batten Disease.
Shyla raised money for the Dodkin family’s Pedal4Memories charity fund, which was set up to raise money to make dreams come true for Harrison, Finley, and their other brother Arthur, and to also raise awareness and cash for the Batten Disease Family Association, which offers support to families with the genetic disease.
She held a lemonade stand last summer which raised £820 and then in the autumn she walked a marathon (26 miles) in just over 12 hours raising a further £1,600.
Shyla, was accompanied to the awards by her proud mum Blair Simpson, and Sarah Dodkin, Harrison’s mum, who had nominated her for the Wisbech Youth Unsung Hero Award.
The nine-year-old who now has her sights set on a 100 mile cycle challenge could not contain her delight in picking up the trophy.
Other nominees were: 272 (Wisbech) Squadron Air Cadets – nominated for their assistance at every major public event over the past years.
Courtney Rose Veal – nominated for her the work she has done within the community including litter picking, organising coffee mornings and helping the travelling community. she had been diagnosed with scoliosis five years ago and had worked to regain her confidence.
Gabriel Cassiday – an air cadet – nominated for his teamwork and leadership skills and for being an excellent role model.
Harry Field – an air cadet – nominated for his willingness to help others and for helping at numerous community events.
Aivaras Sirutis and Billy Smith Venmore – nominated for saving a man’s life.
Although the pair did not pick up the Younr Unsung Hero Award they did go on to win the new Mayor’s Award. The packed hall heard how the friends had spotted a man at the foot of a tree in Wisbech park on New Year’s Day. The man was ‘frozen’, pale, unconscious and unresponsive.
The teenagers called emergency services and kept him warm until help arrived.
The evening had started with the presentation of the Best Business Award. This was a hard-fought category but it was Sunlounger Travel, in Wisbech Market Place that collected the trophy.
They were described as a ‘shining star’ who always goes above and beyond for their customers.
The shop has also been an advocate for raising awareness of good causes and using their position to collect money, toys, and donations for various charitable causes in the town.
Nominees were: Charlotte Watson Financial Planning; Greek Corner; Lilac HR; and Cleaner 5 Star.
Best Customer Service was the next award to be presented, again judges found it a difficult job to pick a winner from the numerous nominees.
However, the trophy went to Kevin Ellinor. He was nominated by Meadowgate Academy for the work he does with Special Educational Needs students who visit Morrisons supermarket every Tuesday as part of the school’s community outreach programme. Kevin who was praised for his patience was a described as a “most welcoming and wonderful man” who has helped students to progress.
Nominees were: David Pooley (delivers medication to patients); Fenland Family and Baby Bank; Sizzler Barbecue Caterers; Nikki Winsor (Sunlounger Travel); Rakib Islam (waiter); and Kerry Elkins, Lisa Grayer and Jill Simmons-Salandy (Post Office).
There were three finalists in the Best Neighbour category but the winner was Yvonne Jupp – who sadly was unable to make the presentation evening and was represented by her nominator Councillor Lucie Foice-Beard.
The other nominees were Jolita Kiseliovaite and Sylwia Salvidge.
The Roger Green Sports Award – named after a former mayor – was won by Matt Warren. He was nominated for the work he does with children including football camp, helping children with special needs and for recently launching a disability football evening. He was described by his nominator as “one in a million”.
Other nominees were: Alex Parnell (football); Gary Bligh (running and walking sessions); Wisbech Junior Park Run; Wisbech Park Run Volunteers; and Steve King (karate).
Wisbech Community Hero Award was won by Ruth Freeman.
Ruth was nominated for all her work within the community including gardening and litter picking. She has particularly had a massive impact on the community garden in Walsoken.
Other nominees were: 272 Squadron Air Training Corps; Flt Lt Anne Rose (working with youth); Chris Stevens (Oasis Centre manager); George Broughton (Feed Fenland); Jane Holmes (nurse); John Knoll (litter picking/tidying his community); Kim Taylor (Wisbech Tweet); Councillor Susan Wallwork (council work); Sylwia Salvidge (community work, litter picking, feeding the homeless); Pennie Alexander (Dare2Drive driving instructor); Wisbech Lithuanian Community (work in the community); Bulgarian Community (work in the community).
The Judges Award was the penultimate award of the evening and it was presented jointly to the Wisbech Junior Park Run and the Wisbech Park Run Volunteers.
It was felt by the judges that the contribution to Wisbech by these two groups was hugely beneficial to the town and they deserved a special mention for all they contribute to the community.