Awards given out for going the extra mile in pandemic
AWARDS have been presented to people in the town who have been put forward for going the extra mile during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ann Smith and Emma Waring, the founders of an online community support group, and Scott Garrity, the head teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, have all received a Beacon of Hope Award for their service to the community.
The awards were organised by the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Elizabeth Fothergill and High Sheriff of Derbyshire Tony Walker, who worked with Derbyshire County Council to invite nominations of people who could be deserving of recognition.
In total 150 awards were given out, and three of these came to Ashbourne, presented by the High Sheriff and Derbyshire’s deputy lieutenant Brell Ewart.
Mr Ewart attended a recent Ashbourne Town Council meeting to present the awards to former Mayor Ann Smith, and co-founder of the Covid support group Emma Waring at Ashbourne Town Hall.
The group they started, which is based on Facebook and aims to reach out to anyone who was vulnerable or shielding throughout the outbreak, has nearly 5,000 followers and since it began last spring it has helped dozens of people find support and kept hundreds up to date with local developments.
Mr Ewart said: “The award was
made for their outstanding voluntary work in setting up the Ashbourne Covid-19 Facebook site that has reached over 4,800 families in our community and the many various ways in which that group has given assistance and help to so many people in our community over the last 18 months.
“Very well done Ann and Emma and all the team who continue to provide such valuable support. “Ashbourne at its best.” Meanwhile Mr Garrity, who received the award from Mr Walker just before the school broke up for the summer holiday, explained the accolade reflected the hard work of all the school staff during an extraordinary school year.
He said: “Thank you so much for the amazing award. I am honoured to even be thought of, I am feeling very humble and very proud.
“Receiving the Derbyshire Beacon of Hope Award is a great way to acknowledge the work of the whole staff team here at QEGS, who have all contributed to this great success”.
Mr Walker said: “Mr Garrity quickly embraced the responsibilities of leadership as the pandemic affected the operation of Queen Elizabeth’s, ensuring that maximum support was given to students, parents and staff so that the school community could function as well as possible in such difficult circumstances.
“He has continued to demonstrate those powers of leadership as the school went through the stages of home learning then the reintroduction of on-site teaching always communicating with the wider community with his excellent weekly letter updates.
“He has shown immense fortitude and resilience to continue these powers of leadership throughout the 14 months of disruption that the pandemic has affected our schools, never once shirking the responsibility his role demands.”