Veteran in finals of ‘spirit’ prize

FALKLANDS veteran Darren Horsnell has won the regional heat of Britain Has Spirit, a campaign to celebrate community heroes.

And now he is in the runnning for the national £25,000 prize.

Darren, 54, from Haslingden, is Veterans In Communities arts and crafts co-ordinator and was nominated for the North West Individual award by outreach worker Claire Wright.

Darren said: “I feel incredibly humbled that so many people have taken the time to vote for me. I am absolutely delighted as I didn’t expect to win. I didn’t even know I was being entered for the award until Claire started asking me details of my service record and I quizzed her.”

Darren received more than 65 per cent of the total votes, easily beating the two other North West nominees.

Along with nine others, he now goes through to the national final to find the Community Hero of the Year, who will win £25,000 to be used to further a local good cause.

As regional winner he will now enjoy a fun experience day. Darren has post traumatic stress disorder, which has been attributed to the incidents he witnessed in the Falklands. While recuperating at Combat Stress, he discovered art therapy and found he had a hidden talent.Now he runs popular painting sessions at the Veterans In Communities (VIC) Centre in Haslingden, which are always sold out, and he also set up an art group.

The art group, under the guidance of Darren, has grown over the last three years and members have exhibited their work. VIC operations manager Bob Elliott said: “I have known Darren since 2011 CONTACT: CHARLOTTE GREEN OFFICE: 0161 211 2469 MOBILE: 07342 080524 @CharGreenMEN charlotte.green@trinitymirror.com ●● Darren Horsnell, regional winner of Britain Has Spirit, with one of his many paintings as he was one of the first veterans to come to the organisation.

“His passion was always art and we managed to get some money to start a small art group on a Friday with Darren running it, which is now flourishing. His journey is a phenomenal one and he has got through the regional heat on his own merit.”

Voting begins in September.