Special Award of the Week

[SteveH]

Keep Wales Tidy celebrates 50 years - and there is 'always more work to do'
The group have been a driving force in caring for Welsh communities and protecting biodiversity throughout that time

The group are known for their work across the country, especially North Wales where they've been involved with a wide range of projects over the years, especially in the last few where litter has seen a significant rise thanks to a surge in staycations brought on by Covid. The group have grown and changed many times over the years, but their central goal has always remained the same.

Read more  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/keep-wales-tidy-celebrates-50-24662087

[Hugo]

Cardiac arrest: Off-duty ambulance worker saves neighbour

I'd like to award Erika Davies with this week's award,  what a fantastic neighbour to have!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63116100

[SteveH]

A man risked his life to save a teenage girl who had jumped on to train tracks.

Kyle Dovey, a social worker from Old Colwyn, Conwy county, has been recognised after he pulled the girl to safety at Colwyn Bay station seconds before an oncoming train passed.

The girl was badly injured after the train hit her while Mr Dovey was trying to save her, but she survived.

He will get the rarely awarded silver medal from the Royal Humane Society, which called him a "true hero".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63170254?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Thousands of retired NHS workers answered an urgent call by the government to go back to work as the Covid-19 pandemic threatened to overwhelm hospitals. Two years on, many of them are still there. The BBC spoke to some about their unwavering need to help.

Elaine Millership, 62, was looking for a slower pace of life to spend more time with her grandchildren and elderly parents after decades as a community staff nurse.

But as the pandemic began to spread across the world, she was "absolutely horrified" to watch it unfold on television.

"I couldn't sit at home watching that, knowing I had all these skills," she said.

"I really felt like 'I can do this. Let me have it.'"

Mrs Millership is one of about 10,000 former workers who signed up to help and are continuing to work in the NHS as the country prepares for another surge of Covid cases this winter.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-63228718

[SteveH]

Its the small things that make a big difference ......

Trainee nurse at English hospital wrote down Welsh phrases to help comfort sick child
She wrote down the phrases so colleagues could comfort him in his native language

A trainee nurse wrote down Welsh phrases and left them at the bedside of a two-year-old boy battling cancer so colleagues could comfort him in his native language. Morgan Ridler, from Swansea, was awaiting surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital to remove a tumour in his abdomen, when a student medic overheard his mum Natalie speaking to the toddler in Welsh.

The nurse decided to write a number of reassuring phrases in Welsh - including 'You're okay' and 'You're safe', written phonetically to aid pronunciation, reports WalesOnline. It was so whoever was on the ward could help him feel less scared when his family weren't around

It wasn't until a year later, when relatives requested copies of Morgan's medical notes, that the kind act was finally discovered. "I was skimming through the notes and one stood out from the rest because of the handwriting," said mum Natalie, 32.

"That?s when I found she had put in this entry of some Welsh phrases to comfort Morgan when he was distressed. She was a student nurse on the intensive care unit and she heard me speak Welsh to him when he was upset and took it upon herself to do this for him.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/trainee-nurse-english-hospital-wrote-25425819

[SteveH]

  to a very smart lady.

Recognising a snippet of Morse code made all the difference when an Asda delivery driver went above and beyond her duty. Sam Speechley, from the Queensferry branch, sprang into action when she heard someone in distress tap out what sounded like SOS on their car horn.

When she went to investigate she found 90-year-old Keith Turner who'd slipped on the driveway of his Flintshire home and had broken his hip. He had managed to drag himself to the car so he could sound the alarm.

Widower Keith, who's now back home after spending three weeks in hospital, said: "Sam saved my life, she really did, and I can't thank her enough. I'd been laying there in the rain and cold for half an hour and if she hadn't come along when she did I don't think I'd have made it. She's a Godsend.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/hero-asda-delivery-driver-saved-25718826

[SteveH]

  just what we need   

A CELEBRATORY event to mark the achievements of more than 100 healthcare support workers from Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board at Venue Cymru recently.

The event was held to mark the academic achievements of 111 healthcare support workers who had been students at Coleg Llandrillo.

Presenting to the students were the health board?s Chief Executive Officer Jo Whitehead and Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Angela Wood.

The healthcare support workers gained the Level 4 Certificate in Higher Education in Healthcare Practice following secondment to Coleg Llandrillo for one day per week, over one year, by their healthcare employer.

The celebration event was the first event in three years (since November 2019) due to the Covid pandemic. All successful graduates studied during the pandemic whilst working as key workers in healthcare settings, making their achievements even more remarkable.

The programme develops higher-level knowledge and skills which enable the healthcare support workers to apply for increasing numbers of roles that extend their responsibilities, and it also means that the healthcare support workers can carry out higher-level duties within their post, therefore meeting the workforce needs of the health board. The intensive course involves both academic assessment at college and assessment within the workplace, the latter by clinically qualified NHS staff.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23208098.venue-cymru-hosts-celebratory-event-healthcare-workers/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

I think this is a great idea, allowing families to be together at Xmas...... What do you think ?

Welsh gran charges family up to ?15 each for Christmas dinner including the grandkids
'When people read it, and not just look at the headline, they?ll actually think ?hmm, yes, that?s actually not a bad idea'

A grandmother from Wales has revealed that she charges her family for Christmas dinner every year - and says it helps her avoid waste and cover the rising costs of preparing the meal. Caroline Duddridge, 63, from Cardiff, will be hosting up to 12 people for Christmas dinner this year.

She'll also be putting on a buffet on Christmas Eve, and another on Boxing Day. So, she said, charging a fee is a sensible solution. "I've got to be clear," she told WalesOnline, "I'm not out to make a profit. It's a contribution; I'm not getting one up on my children.

"It sounds, on the face of it, like 'oh my god, how could she do that?' But it started when my husband died just before Christmas 2015. My income was halved and I lost my job, so I said to my kids that they'd have to contribute to all the food."

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/welsh-gran-charges-family-up-25823958

[SteveH]

Among the famous faces on the lists are comedian Frank Skinner, who is made an MBE for services to entertainment. He said he had not yet told his family because he thought it may have been "some sort of administrative error".

Frank Skinner becomes an MBE, while actor Stephen Graham gets an OBE
Merseyside-born This Is England actor Stephen Graham becomes an OBE for services to drama, while David Harewood receives an OBE for services to drama and charity.

Dame Mary Quant, 92 - the fashion designer widely credited with popularising the mini skirt in the 1960s - joins the elite Companions of Honour.

And Virginia McKenna, the 91-year-old actress and co-founder of the Born Free Foundation, is made a dame for services to wildlife conservation and to wild animal welfare.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64125449

[Hugo]

I would like to nominate Sammie Hewitt for a Special award of the week for her refreshingly honest deed on Friday

My wife had a senior moment on Friday and when she arrived home from shopping she realised that she had left her handbag which contained her purse and other items in the trolley at Home Bargains.      She was very upset about it but then so relieved when she phoned the store and was told that the bag had been handed in
She then made a quick dash to the store and collected the handbag and wanted to thank the person who had been so honest and handed it in but unfortunately the person did not leave a name or contact number
However on the Saturday when I spoke to my walking buddy in Prestatyn  he was able to trace Sammie thanks to Social Media and Mrs H sent a letter of thanks to Sammie for being so honest
It restored our faith in human nature and if only everyone was as honest as her, then the world would be a better place for it

[SteveH]

A well deserved award, glad all worked out to the good, Mrs H. lost her purse last year, the hassle of getting new cards etc, especially her new bank card, you said you had trouble paying for something recently, try using a new card with your old suppliers, security drove her mad, I know it was for her own good, but what a pain.

[Hugo]

I'm really sorry to hear that Steve, it must have been so stressful for Mrs H and yourself.   All those thoughts went through my head in just a short time before we found out that my wife's handbag had been handed in.    Our appreciation foe Sammie's honesty is really appreciated and I wish everyone was like her.   

[Hugo]

I'd like to nominate Olly Jonesfor the Award of the week for his act of kindness to an elderly lady.    That's the second good act done in Prestatyn this last week so well done to those two people
North Wales schoolboy, 12, causes online sensation with simple act of kindness
Olly Jones thought nothing of his gesture but he was widely lauded on social media



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-schoolboy-12-causes-25955244

[SteveH]

If this works a great use of wool world wide, if not a special award.... certainly a  for trying.

Thousands of sheep fleeces laid on hills above A55 for vineyard's incredible invention
Initially the vineyard's owner thought the idea was a joke - but now he believes it can revolutionise winemaking around the world

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a55-drivers-need-sunglasses-cruising-26079668

[SteveH]

NORTH East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) volunteers have been handed a special award for their assistance during a missing person case last year.

Temporary North Wales Police superintendent Owain Llewellyn visited the NEWSAR team to present a commendation in recognition of their vital services to keep others safe.

That comes in particular following their assistance during a search for a missing person in the Llyn Brenig area in November 2022.

cont https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23337130.special-award-newsar-volunteers-conducted-llyn-brenig-rescue/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589