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2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Awards
Presented
on
Friday
12
th
December
2014
at
South
Redditch
Sports
and
Social
Club
Use
the
arrow
keys
to
go
forward
and
back
between
pages
or
Click
on
a
gold
symbol
to
go
directly
to
the
name
Marion
Barton
Steve
Bennett
Texas
Bishop
Neil
Brown
Samantha
Chandler
Linda
Clement
George
Dallimore
Jane
Deane
Brett
Elesmore
and
Sophie
Grogan
Robert
&
Maggie
Underwood
(CCSHF)
Steve
Evans
Hayley
Gwilliam
and
Ernest
Paul
Heaton
Neil
Ordish
and
Beth
Haining
Sharon
Harvey
Redditch
School
Changes
Jan
and
Andy
Higgitt
Ian
Johnson
Jan
Little
FS
Nick
Lyons
Natalie
Martin
Ken
&
Janet
McDonald
and
Margaret
Thompson
Brenda
Morris
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Marion
Barton
(Marian
Barton
with
her
deputy
head
teacher
Adrian
Ward
-
now
head
master
-
in
December
2013)
Image:
Redditch
Standard
Marion
Barton,
who
transformed
Trinity
High
School
into
the
most
improved
in
England,
retired
from
her
role
leading
the
teaching
staff
in
August
2014.
She
was
appointed
to
the
post
in
1995,
at
what
was
then
the
Abbey
High
School,
becoming
the
first
female
head
teacher
in
110
years.
She
was
tasked
with
the
job
of
turning
around
the
Grove
Street
School’s
fortunes
and,
over
the
last
two
decades,
oversaw
a
huge
upturn
in
the
school’s
performance
culminating
in
it
being
named
in
the
most
improved
school
in
the
country.
Working
with
the
board
of
governors
she
has
also
saw
significant
sums
invested
to
upgrade
the
ageing
buildings
including
a
modern
sports
hall
and
artificial
pitches,
music
room
and
purpose-built
Post-16
Centre,
along
with
conversion
to
Academy
status.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Steve
Bennett
Steve
dedicates
a
lot
of
his
time
to
charity.
He
is
the
Founder
and
a
Trustee
of
the
Equal
World
Foundation,
a
charity
set
up
by
the
Bennett
family
to
develop
health
and
education
in
rural
Africa.
He
undertakes
vigorous
charity
fundraising
initiatives,
including
walking
to
the
North
Pole,
a
static
cycling
event
covering
the
equivalent
of
17,579
miles
and
raising
over
£85000,
and
a
summer
ball
raising
over
£16500.
Steve's
philosophy
is
putting
people
and
the
planet
before
profit,
something
he
does
every
day.
(Steve
Bennett
with
Simon
Barnes,
chief
executive
officer
of
the
Colourful
Life
Foundation
February
2014)
Image:
Redditch
Standard
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Texas
Bishop
Texas
was
born
with
Cerebral
Palsy
and
a
serious
heart
condition
making
him
a
wheelchair
user.
Despite
his
condition
Texas
thrives
in
sport
and
raises
funds
to
help
other
young
people
succeed
in
sport.
The
daredevil
wheelchair
basketball
ace
abseiled
30
metres
down
Walsall
Art
Gallery
in
October
to
raise
money
for
national
children’s
charity,
Caudwell
Children,
which
helps
young
people
with
disabilities
succeed
in
sport.
The
cost
of
specialist
sports
equipment
can
cost
up
to
100
times
more
for
children
and
young
people
living
with
disability.
To
date,
Caudwell
Children
has
supported
more
than
220
children
and
young
people
get
into
sport
through
its
Enable
Sport
programme.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Neil
Brown
(Image
from
‘Mr
Taxi’
website)
Neil
Brown
has
a
vast
experience
of
working
in
the
passenger
transport
industry,
including
driving
buses
and
coaches
and
becoming
transport
Manager
at
a
local
coach
company.
In
2004
he
set
up
Mr
Taxi
Ltd
and,
when
he
realised
that
there
were
no
wheelchair
accessible
taxis
available
in
Redditch
outside
of
these
hours
operated
by
Dial-a-Ride
and
at
weekends,
he
decided
to
specialise
in
offering
wheelchair
accessible
transport
to
provide
these
with
the
opportunity
to
make
journeys
outside
normal
working
hours
and
at
weekends.
He
now
has
a
fleet
of
vehicles
which
can
carry
one
or
two
wheelchairs
to
any
part
of
the
country
whether
for
hospital
visits,
to
and
from
work,
day
trips
and
holidays,
including
airport
transfers
to
all
of
the
country's
airports.
This
has
given
added
freedom
to
those
unable
to
access
local
transport
and
live
as
normal
a
life
as
possible
He
prides
himself
on
the
professional
service
that
he
offers,
His
drivers
are
always
punctual
and
reliable
so
there
is
no
need
to
worry
that
they
won't
turn
up
on
time.
His
drivers
are
all
uniformed,
fully
trained,
knowledgeable,
friendly
and
courteous.
This
friendly,
reliable,
flexible,
professional
service
deserves
recognition
for
the
positive
impact
it
has
on
so
many
of
the
residents
of
Redditch
who
rely
on
Mr
Taxi
Ltd
to
access
facilities
in
and
around
the
area
when
the
local
transport
services
or
their
own
transport
cannot
accommodate
their
needs.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Samantha
Chandler
Sam
Chandler
is
the
Tesco
Community
Champion
for
the
Redditch
Store.
The
role
of
the
Community
Champion,
is
to
understand
local
community
issues
and
to
utilise
Tesco’s
skills,
knowledge
and
resources
to
make
a
difference.
In
Redditch
this
has
included
support
for
the
Redditch
Food
Bank,
holding
a
charity
skipping
day
outside
the
store
for
Diabetes
UK,
supporting
Redditch
Nightstop
and
many
other
activities
within
the
community.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Linda
Clement
Linda
Clement
has
worked
with
and
for
the
elderly
for
many
years.
She
currently
manages
Plymouth
Court
sheltered
housing
complex
and
ensures
all
are
treated
with
respect
and
dignity.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
George
Dallimore
George
is
always
available
and
will
put
himself
out
for
anyone!
Friends
and
strangers!
He
has
recently
retired
from
Marks
&
Spencer
but
cannot
bring
himself
to
give
up
helping
out
friends
and
family
with
decorating,
gardening
and
any
odd
jobs
that
need
doing,
sometimes
ones
that
don’t!
When
his
daughter
joined
a
ladies
football
club,
he
soon
got
involved
with
the
club,
from
being
lines
man
to
Manager
for
a
season,
giving
up
his
free
time
twice
a
week!
He
still
remains
on
the
committee
and
still
supports
‘the
girls’
week
in
week
out,
come
rain
or
shine!
When
his
daughter
joined
West
Mercia
Police
and
got
involved
with
"The
Ditch"
youth
club
run
by
volunteers
of
the
force,
he
volunteered
at
the
youth
group
and
attends
every
Wednesday
evening.
When
his
daughter
came
across
a
lady
who's
fence
had
blown
down
in
the
winds,
she
called
her
dad
and
he
attended
right
away
to
fix
the
fence,
he
still
pops
in
to
check
on
that
lady
and
many
more
he
can
help
like
that.
He
talked
his
2
brothers
into
joining
him
and
together
they
go
around
the
residential
care
and
elderly
homes
singing
just
to
bring
some
cheer.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Jane
Deane
Jane
Deane
was
nominated
for
all
the
work
she
does
for
Oasis
Christian
Church,
AOK
&
Redditch
Foodbank.
Although
she
works
for
Oasis
Christian
Church
part
time,
she
puts
in
a
lot
more
hours
to
help
and
support
people
of
Redditch
for
all
the
above
causes,
lots
of
times
these
hours
have
been
very
unsociable.
She
works
very
hard
for
these
causes
and
supports
all
types
of
people
in
Redditch.
She
has
helped
many
of
people
in
Redditch
over
the
years
and
has
been
a
lifesaver
many
times
by
being
in
the
right
place
at
the
right
time.
She's
a
wonderful
wife
and
a
great
person
who
likes
to
help
others,
and
has
been
doing
so
for
many
years.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Brett
Elesmore
and
Sophie
Grogan
Sophie
and
Brett
have
been
fundraising
for
MACS
(the
Micro
and
Anophthalmic
Children's
Society)
for
the
last
few
years,
raising
over
£10,000
to
help
their
work
with
families
of
children
born
with
Microphthalmia
(small
eyes),
Anophthalmia
(no
eyes)
or
Coloboma
(cleft
of
the
eye).
Every
year
Sophie
and
Brett
hold
a
show
called
I
Dreamed
a
Dream,
which
has
proved
very
popular
and
not
only
helped
raise
significant
funds
for
MACS
but
also
much
needed
awareness
of
the
charity's
work.
In
addition
they
have
run
the
London
Marathon
in
order
to
raise
funds
for
this
great
cause.
All
at
MACS
are
extremely
grateful
for
the
work
that
Sophie
and
Brett
have
done
in
supporting
our
charity
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Charlotte
and
Craig's
Saving
Hearts
Foundation
(CCSHF)
Started
in
May
2012,
(formerly
Redditch
Heart
Safe)
founders
Robert
and
Maggie
Underwood
have
worked
tirelessly
in
educating
the
public
of
the
presence
and
use
of
defibrillators,
raising
funds
for
defibrillators
to
be
purchased,
and
highlighting
heart
conditions
and
the
subsequent
risks
of
sudden
death.
Winners
of
Pride
of
Redditch
in
2013,
CCSHF
has
continued
its
vital
work
in
2014.
In
particular,
in
making
sure
our
children
are
safe
whilst
at
school
with
the
continued
roll
out
of
defibrillators
and
training
at
Tardebigge,
Matchborough,
Crabbs
Cross,
Oak
Hill
and
Millfields
First
Schools.
In
addition,
other
public
places
have
benefited
from
their
work
such
as
Tesco
and
Morrisions
and
many
others.
Identified
as
Heroes
from
the
local
community,
CCSHF
were
asked
to
open
the
new
B&M
store
towards
the
end
of
2014.
Robert
&
Maggie
Underwood
Charlotte
&
Craig’s
Saving
Hearts
Foundation
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Steve
Evans
Café
Mambo,
located
near
the
bandstand
on
Church
Green
East,
was
created
out
of
the
Pitch
Your
Plan
scheme
run
by
Redditch
Town
Centre
Partnership
which
provided
support
to
three
entrepreneurs
to
fill
empty
units.
In
its
first
12
months
the
business
has
already
established
itself
as
an
events
venue
with
open
mic
nights,
a
psychic
evening
and
live
music
performances.
It
was
also
one
of
the
venues
taking
part
in
the
Redditch
Music
Festival
to
celebrate
the
new
town's
50th
anniversary.
On
the
food
side
it
has
expanded
its
outside
catering
having
secured
contracts
with
a
number
of
businesses
and
schools.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Hayley
Gwilliam
and
Ernest
Paul
Heaton
Arrow
Valley
Parkrun
Parkrun
image
from
Redditch
Borough
Council
Website
Redditch
Borough
Council
has
supported
volunteers
to
organise
community
parkruns
in
the
park
every
Saturday
morning
at
8.45am,
for
residents
young
and
old,
parents
and
children,
dog
walkers
and
whoever
else
might
want
to
get
active
outdoors
in
pleasant
parkland
surroundings:
from
beginners
to
Olympians.
Parkrun
is
free,
timed,
five
kilometre
events
organised
across
the
world
to
be
safe
and
welcoming
for
anyone
and
everyone.
It
is
organised
by
sports
development
officer
Hayley
Gwilliam.
Nomination
from
user
-
Hayley
has
been
instrumental
in
setting
up
parkrun
and
many
running
groups
in
Redditch
which
is
making
a
difference
to
so
many
people's
lives
and
fitness.
Parkrun
has
done
amazing
work
on
getting
people
running.
I
started
running
in
January
on
one
of
the
couch
to
5k
courses
and
now
I
can
run
10km
despite
suffering
from
fibromyalgia.
Ernie
has
given
me
great
support
and
he's
always
willing
to
help
you
improve
no
matter
what
level
you
are
at.
Without
these
guys
I
don't
think
I
would
still
be
running
today.
The
work
they
do
to
keep
parkrun
going
is
amazing
and
it
attracts
more
and
more
people
each
week.
Thanks
both
for
all
your
support!
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Beth
Haining
and
Neil
Ordish
Beth
and
Neil
have
worked
together
to
provide
the
innovative
project,
under
the
umbrella
of
Mentor
Link,
which
is
transforming
the
lives
of
Redditch
residents.
They
have
worked
so
hard,
in
their
own
time,
to
get
the
project
established,
and
continue
to
offer
one
to
one
life
coaching
to
people
with
passion
and
commitment.
They
have
invested
time
and
energy
in
to
the
project
because
they
believe
that
each
person
they
work
with
should
be
valued,
respected
and
supported
to
move
forward
in
their
life
journey.
The
project
was
started
because
it
was
felt
strongly
that
to
move
people
from
where
they
are
currently
to
where
they
want
to
be
takes
more
than
just
a
short
term
intervention,
particularly
if
there
is
a
well
being
or
mental
health
issue.
Now
Beth
and
Neil
are
actively
taking
referrals
from
GP’s,
Early
Help,
support
groups
and
residents
themselves
and
offering
these
people
one
to
one
appointments
on
a
regular
basis
in
local
venues
–
whilst
also
working
tirelessly
to
raise
funding
for
the
service
to
continue,
at
no
cost
to
the
people
benefitting.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Sharon
Harvey
For
her
outstanding
work
defending
and
supporting
the
school
system
in
Redditch.
(see
Redditch
School
Changes
next
page)
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Redditch
School
Changes
Sharon,
Rebecca
and
Nicky
from
School
Changes
have
worked
tirelessly
for
the
good
of
children
and
families
in
Redditch
to
ensure
that
organisations
can't
just
go
ahead
with
ideas
that
suit
themselves.
They
have
put
lots
of
information
into
the
public
domain,
got
people
talking,
and
they
have
done
this
in
a
fair
manner
that
considers
all
sides
of
the
argument.
They
set
up
a
Facebook
page
to
discuss
the
proposed
changes
to
our
school
system
through
the
proposals
put
forward
by
Tudor
Grange
Academy.
They
did
not
take
up
a
position
for
or
against.
Their
aim
was
to
make
sure
parents
and
interested
parties
are
aware
of
what
is
happening
and
can
discuss
views
and
concerns.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Jan
and
Andy
Higgitt
(Jestaminute
Logo
from
website)
Jan
&
Andy
Higgitt
established
Jestaminute
Community
Theatre
in
2004
and
in
2011
they
set
up
a
new
organisation,
Jestaminute,
a
social
enterprise.
Jestaminute
is
committed
to
working
within
the
community
and
looks
to
find
funding
to
create
projects
that
offer
solutions
to
issues
in
the
community.
They
work
in
schools,
care
homes
and
also
with
youth
and
older
groups
in
a
variety
of
settings.
They
believe
in
the
power
of
art
to
transform
and
improve
the
lives
of
those
that
take
part
and
those
that
experience
art
as
an
audience
member.
They
have
both
written
and
produced
a
series
of
theatre
pieces
in
support
of
significant
social
issues.
They
are
actively
involved
in
the
local
mental
health
awareness
group.
They
are
also
involved
in
many
other
initiatives,
such
as
local
history
projects
at
Forge
Mill.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Ian
Johnson
Ian
is
one
of
those
people
who
are
willing
to
help
and
put
themselves
out
24-7
-
no
job
is
too
big.
You
don't
even
need
to
ask
and
he
is
there
willing
to
help
offering
his
services.
He
works
tirelessly
for
the
Save
the
Alex
campaign
helping
to
keep
vital
services
at
the
Alex.
He
also
puts
in
a
lot
of
effort
for
Church
Hill.
In
particular
he
is
the
Vice
Chair
of
the
Church
Hill
Big
Local
Project
which
uses
Lottery
money
to
improve
the
area.
He
is
always
helping
the
Community
the
best
he
can
and
he
is
truly
a
loyal
supporter
of
the
town.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Jan
Little
As
a
member
of
the
Worcestershire
Alzheimer
Society,
Jan
has
worked
promoting
the
Dementia
Café,
which
meets
every
month
at
the
Masonic
Hall,
Easemore
Road.
This
is
for
people
with
Dementia
and
their
carers,
family
and
friends.
She
also
helped
create
Redditch
Friends
Together
which
reaches
out
to
local
organisations
and
individuals
to
make
Redditch
a
leading
dementia
friendly
town.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
FS
Nick
Lyons
Flight
Sergeant
Nick
Lyons
supports
the
running
of
the
local
Royal
Air
Force
Cadet
Squadron.
It
is
an
open
Squadron
which
means
anyone
between
the
ages
of
12
and
20
can
join
from
the
local
community.
There
are
a
variety
of
activities
for
young
people
including
the
Duke
Of
Edinburgh
Award,
BTEC's,
adventure
training
camps,
visits
to
RAF
stations,
fieldcraft
training
and
developing
leadership
and
team
work
skills.
The
Squadron
parades
twice
a
week
and
takes
part
in
many
activities
at
weekends.
Nick
contributes
enormously
to
the
running
of
the
Squadron
which
allows
for
these
activities
to
take
place.
Due
to
the
complexity
of
arranging
these
activities,
Nick
commits
a
lot
of
his
time
outside
to
ensure
that
things
are
prepared
so
that
they
run
smoothly.
He
is
also
the
first
person
to
put
his
name
forward
for
delivering
the
training
and
commits
to
multiple
weekends
in
a
month.
He
displays
a
great
personal
example
to
young
people
and
has
an
empathy
which
enables
him
to
guide
and
develop
them
in
both
their
learning
and
personal
development.
He
also
takes
on
extra
duties
within
the
RAF
Cadets
and
currently
is
working
on
a
national
adult
recruitment
campaign
to
increase
the
number
of
adult
volunteers
within
the
organisation
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Natalie
Martin
(No
photograph
available)
From
her
nomination
form…
Natalie
is
a
midwife
colleague
of
mine.
Not
only
does
she
work
tirelessly
for
the
women
in
her
care,
often
without
breaks,
working
late
she
is
also
a
successful
fundraiser
for
Cancer
charities.
Natalie
has
walked
marathons
and
set
up
many
functions/fundraisers
for
her
cause
and
other
charities
who
need
help.
Natalie
is
one
of
the
kindest,
warm
spirited,
and
altruistic
woman
I've
had
the
pleasure
of
knowing.
The
hours
she
spends
caring
for
others
is
astounding
and
inspiring.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Ken
&
Janet
McDonald
and
Margaret
Thompson
(No
photograph
available)
Nomination…
Every
Thursday
morning
the
above
open
up
the
Foregate
Street
Community
Centre
for
the
elderly
residents
of
Astwood
Bank,
Redditch,
The
residents
play
Bingo,
with
Ken
being
the
number
caller.
Ken
and
Janet
make
the
mornings
more
interesting
by
having
small
prizes
for
the
winners
of
the
Bingo
There
is
Tea,
Coffee
and
Biscuits
so
the
group
feel
more
welcomed
Ken,
Janet
and
Margaret
arrange
for
day's
out
for
the
group,
were
they
will
take
the
members
for
a
meal,
paid
for
with
funds,
Fund
raising
activities
are
organised
by,
Ken,
Janet
and
Margaret,
all
proceeds
go
to
helping
the
members
Recently
a
Tombola
event
took
place
at
the
community
hall
The
Thursday
meeting
group
have
become
very
good
friends
and
often
meet
up
away
from
the
club.
I
sincerely
think
without
Ken,
Janet
and
Margaret
making
the
commitment
the
Thursday
meeting
group
would
have
miss
out
on
a
lot
of
fun,
and
may
not
have
met
some
very
lovely
people
that
have
become
good
friends.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Brenda
Morris
Brenda
is
a
community
focused
member
of
Astwood
Bank,
Redditch,
You
only
need
to
speak
with
her
for
a
short
time
to
realise
that
she
is
very
protective
towards
the
residents
of
Astwood
Bank,
especially
the
elderly.
She
has
endless
energy
which
she
puts
to
good
use
helping
others.
She
has
been
a
Neighbourhood
Watch
Coordinator
for
around,
5,
years.
She
attends
the
quartile
meetings
at
the
Redditch
Police
Station,
and
can
be
relied
on
to
pass
on
security
advice
to
the
residents.
She
also
gives
her
time
at
the
Birchensale
Middle
School,
mentoring
children
in
need
of
a
little
support.
She
is
a
member
of
the
Astwood
Bank
Community
Welfare
Association
and
spends
time
every
week
collecting
tout
money.
She
also
raises
money
for
the
association
with
fund
raising
and
raffles.
She
recently
approached
businesses
in
Astwood
Bank
to
donate
prizes
to
a
raffle
and
all
the
money
raised
goes
to
helping
the
elderly
members
of
Astwood
Bank.
She
also
raises
money
by
using
her
singing
talent
with
all
the
money
raised
going
to
the
Primrose
Hospice.
2014
Nominations
-
part
1
of
2
Pride
of
Redditch
2014
Organised
by
Rebecca
Blake
Main
Sponsor
The
Redditch
Standard
plus…..
Many
thanks
to
all
those
who
took
part,
our
sponsors,
our
supporters
and
the
many
people
who
worked
so
hard
to
make
this
event
such
a
success.