Hero teacher Zane ranked alongside Colonel Tom in Brave Britons awards
GRIMSBY’S superhero assistant headteacher, Zane Powles was moved to tears during an award ceremony to recognise the country’s bravest.
The emotional reaction came as he was in line for a national bravery award for his outstanding response to the Covid crisis.
The national awards for Brave Britons 2020 saw Zane alongside Colonel Tom Moore, who raised more than £32million for NHS during the coronavirus emergency. Zane, an assistant headteacher at Western Primary School, walked 7.5 miles a day for 17 weeks – and totalled more than 600 miles over this period to ensure children had meals during lockdown.
The meals totalled four tonnes in weight. Following his MBE announced in The Queen’s Birthday Honours list revealed on Saturday, the popular teacher was shortlisted for a bravery award in the prestigious national Amplifon Awards For Brave Britons 2020.
It was won by 100-year-old Colonel Moore, who received the honour at the virtual ceremony hosted by Radio 5 Live presenter, Rachel Burden. Falklands hero Simon Weston was chairman of the panel of judges who shortlisted Zane and Colonel Moore. The top award for Brave Briton went to England striker and Manchester United player Marcus Rashford, for his campaign to get free school meals for children during lockdown.
Zane’s emotional reaction came when a Leeds teenager, Jack Smith was honoured for his life saving actions when his brother was injured. The former Grenadier
Guardsman G d told ld the h G Grimsby i b Tl Teleghrph: “I was in tears during the young heroes awards because all the children were outstanding. All the children were winners. It was brilliant.”
He added: “It was a bit like Celebrity Squares on TV with all the brave entrants on the screen in the virtual ceremony. They spoke a bit about what I had done for the children.
They were really kind.”
In response to his shortlisting with Colonel Tom Moore, Zane said: “He is a legend. It is like comparing the Premier League with a Second Division side. Well done to him.
“I was delighted when Marcus Rashford won because that was honouring the effort to feed children. It was good for him.
“I loved being on it along with Simon Weston. He was formerly in the Welsh Guards and I served alongside them when I was in the Grenadier Guards.”
Zane is looking forward to being presented with his MBE next year once royal ceremonies resume after lockdown. He is also working with producers of the BBC TV series The Great British Menu and hopes to attract one of the top chefs in the UK to come to Western Primary School for a demonstration.
Zane’s popularity has also caught the eye of top fashion designer Kurt Geiger who has invited him to model some of his latest fashion wear.