Pensioners in a double triumph

Pride in Oldham III

PENSIONER power packed a double punch thanks to the efforts of a local hero and a good neighbour.

War veteran Sidney Bannister was victorious in the Special Achievement category thanks to his courageous attempt to thwart an armed robbery at a Lees bookies.

The 84-year-old, who got a standing ovation when he collected his trophy, was appalled to see a man holding a gun to the head of a female employee at Coral Bookmakers.

So he tackled him to the ground and removed his balaclava without a second thought for his own safety.

Sidney’s efforts helped police to identify and catch the man responsible and he is now safely behind bars.

The plucky pensioner’s efforts were rewarded with a gold award at the National Police Public Bravery Awards in July.

He said: “I am very proud to have received the Pride in Oldham Award. I would act in exactly the same way if I found myself in the same situation in the future. Things like this should not happen and I can’t just stand back and watch when a gun is pointed in the face of a young woman.”

Also nominated in the Special Achievement category were teenager Charlotte Faragher, who overcame her cerebral palsy and the death of her older brother to achieve top A-Level results and gain her dream place at university, and Oldham’s first Youth Mayor Mohammed Adil.

Taking home the prize in the Voluntary category was 80-year-old Bill Booth for whom nothing is too much trouble.

The good neighbour was nominated for his tireless efforts to make his Chadderton street a nicer place.

He said: “I thought it was a wind up when I was nominated so I am delighted to win. I don’t begrudge doing a good turn for anybody and I have fantastic neighbours who help me out a lot as well. Our street is a lovely place to live.”

Also nominated in the Voluntary category were Edward Highton, who selflessly holds down a number of jobs and community roles, and Anjum and Bharti Raza, who set up a club for deaf Oldhamers to unite communities.

Helping communities is the key factor driving The Neighbourhood Team (TNT) in Fitton Hill and Hathershaw who scooped the Group category award.

The organisation has more than 100 supporters and works to improve the area by uniting residents and setting up agreements to create better working relationships.

Vice chairman David Patterson said: “We are shocked to have won this award but it is really nice when the work we do is recognised. We have won a number of awards this year so it seems our message is getting through. We still have lots to achieve and a lot of hard work to do. There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline.”

Also nominated in the Groups category were Fun For All Ages, which unites youngsters and pensioners to break down barriers through arts, crafts, sports and days out, and Firwood Church which helps young people to turn their lives around.

Cross country teen champion Adam Howard was victorious in the Sports Achievement category.

The 14-year-old, who was delighted to win the award, just can’t seem to stop winning competitions and is now in training for the Manchester Schools and England Schools contests which will see him running for his country if he is successful.

Adam’s dad Darren said: “All the hours of hard work are paying off for Adam and it is lovely for him to be recognised for doing something he loves doing so much.”

Adam pipped top cyclist Jake Ragan and cricketer Luke Procter to the award, the latter in the skies on the way back from playing in Australia so his prize was collected by partner Samantha Cunliffe.

The nurses in charge of the Royal Oldham Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit came top in the Health category.

The team work under intense pressure to save lives and take care of Oldham’s poorliest patients.

Ward sister Julie Silverwood said: “We are pleased as punch to have won and will have to think of somewhere to keep the trophy. We have been nominated before but didn’t win so it’s nice to take home the trophy this time.”

They took the top prize but there was deserved applause too for care worker Ann Brooks and Royton midwife Anne Hill.

Giving hope to some of the borough’s most vulnerable young people is the name of the game for the Pupil Referral Unit, which won top prize in the Education category.

The PRU gained outstanding grades in its latest Ofsted report after impressing with fantastic GCSE results and pupils’ progress.

Headteacher Nikki Shaw said: “Simply doing the job that we do is rewarding enough so it is lovely to win this award. We work with such fantastic children and their families and the nomination shows how much the work we are doing is valued. This means more than the Ofsted as it gives us a real sense of pride.”

Also nominated in the Education category were Chris Peirson, deputy headteacher at the PRU, and Jane Harvey, a learning mentor who helped an 11-year-old pupil cope with taking her abuser to task in the courtroom.

First prize in the Professional category went to Janan Billings, who works for the anti-social behaviour team at Guinness Northern Counties.

The tireless 27-year-old sets up after school clubs and links youngsters with agencies to help them deal with a range of problems.

Janan’s manager Jacky Ellison, who collected the award on his behalf as he he is at present in his native Australia said: “We are all really proud of Janan and thrilled that he has won the award.

“He is really committed and patient about working with young people and he really deserves recognition.”

Also nominated in the Professional category were Age Concern handyman Dave Freear and Oldham College’s Janet Richmond, who helps disabled students find work placements.

Peter Jackson and sisters Toni and Chelsie Stott went back to Hathershaw College of Technology and Sport long after they were pupils there to set up a summer activity school.

The selfless trio, who give up their summer months to keep youngsters fit and active, won the Sports Administrator category.

Toni Stott, who has been involved with the scheme for six years, said: “We were shocked to be nominated so to win is amazing. I would like to thank Lorna Phillips, PE teacher at the school. We are all really chuffed to win.”

Also nominated in the Sports Administrator category were Delph Club secretary Val Broadbent and the leaders of Austerlands Cricket Club Youth Section.

Table 13 certainly wasn’t unlucky for youngsters at Limeside Primary who were victorious in the Schools category thanks to their brilliant business brains.

They wrote, designed and produced “What If”, a book about social responsibilities which led to them achieving a business enterprise award.

Head teacher Helen Arya said: “We are absolutely delighted, first of all to be nominated, and we are overwhelmed that we have won.

“It is thanks to the whole team in the school, and the whole community of Limeside, for the success of the school and the innovative projects we run for the children in partnership with the local community.

“Being optimistic and visionary pays off every time for us!”

Delighted Megan Clare (11) took centre stage to receive the award with Jordan Sherrington (11) and Chloe Punchard (7).

She wrote a speech about the event for a special assembly in school today and said: “I enjoyed winning. I feel really proud because we have done it for the whole school. The rest of the school will be chuffed.”

Also nominated in the Schools category were Radcylffe for their inspirational Age Exchange programme and Oldham Sixth Form College for their efforts to raise awareness about blood donation.

Dedicated staff at the Quality and Effectiveness Support Team and Statutory Assessment team came out on top of the Readers’ Choice category.

The team support children with special needs to enable them to attend mainstream schools in Oldham.

Stella Jones, from Oldham Council’s statementing service, said: “It was absolutely fabulous to win. The whole event was fabulous. We really didn’t expect to win. We are winning it for everyone in the teams, QEST and the statementing service, not just as individuals.”

And it was a double celebration for the QEST team as one member had a special reason not to be present. Louise Pennington gave birth to twins on Sunday - a boy and a girl. Both mother and bouncing babies are doing well.

Also nominated in the Readers’ Choice category were active pensioner Hilary Dawson and Sue Hargreaves and Susan Reynolds who make life easier for residents at a Royton sheltered housing complex.

Vicky Ash, winner of the Business category, successfully runs the Christoria Beauty Clinic in Delph despite suffering from debilitating condition lupus.

Vicky said: “I want to thank everyone involved with Fit For Life. I am delighted to have won the award but I think it is more of a blessing to give than to receive. We have seen people come through the group and have watched them overcome their problems and grow.”

Also nominated in the Business category were the all girl team at May’s Chippy in Shaw, and staff at Age Concern’s Clock Cafe in Failsworth — making it three nominations linked with Age Concern, who also had finalists in handyman Dave Freear and the Radclyffe School Age Exchange project.