Heroes’ heart-warming stories of helping out in their communities

HEROES who help others in all weathers are set to be praised at the Devon Community Honours Awards, with thanks to Devon County Council.

The shortlist of winners was announced last week and in the coming weeks in the build-up to the awards, The Herald Express will be speaking to our winners to find out what inspires them to help others.

Nominated by the public and our journalists, the people being honoured come from all walks of life, all ages, and from all over Devon. Their achievements are awe-inspiring and a lesson to us all. They say they are ordinary people, but their acts are truly extraordinary, going above and beyond to do good for their community, most of the time without any recognition or reward.

The event takes place at RHS Rosemoor from 3pm on December 6. Visitors will be able to take in the last hours of daylight before the main event which will be hosted by broadcaster and columnist Judi Spiers. From 6pm onwards the gardens will light up for the Glow Winter Illuminations.

Tickets for the event cost £24 and are available at devonhonours.co.uk.

Polly Barlow, 66 from Exeter is one of the more than 30 winners of this year’s award. She was nominated in the Devon Carer category for her dedication to service at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and beyond.

She began her nurse training in 1970, having been a cadet nurse for Poltimore Hospital, and qualified two years later.

She started from the bottom cleaning toilets and making beds and apart from career breaks for her family, Polly has dedicated her life to the NHSA. After her training she worked at Heavitree hospital.

She said: “I love caring for people. There are sad times and there are good times. If you can give them all the care they are here for that’s the most important thing.

“What I also like is life is busy and there’s a challenge every day. I think it’s a good institution and I think it must go on. There’s nothing like it elsewhere in the world, and I hope it will go on for years and years to come.”

Polly said that although there had been changes for better and for worse in the NHS, staff still did their best for their patients.

She added: “No matter what field or speciality you’re in you’re there to do the best that you can for the patients before they go home.

“I believe that’s not changed in all the years I have worked in the NHS. It’s modernised quite a bit in the last 30 years with new equipment and new ideas, it’s still as hands on as ever, as people take pride in their jobs and caring, and everyone is still really well looked after especially in Exeter.”

Other members of the NHS have been honoured in the Armed Forces and Emergency Services category with the Snow Heroes of the NHS being a winner.

Stories of the heroic actions of NHS workers across Devon poured in during the cold snap this March with staff going beyond the call of duty for their patients.

They include a nurse who trekked more than 20 miles on foot so he wouldn’t miss his shift, a nursing team manager who took to a quad bike to get to her most rural patients and workers who slept at hospitals on make-shift beds to maintain safe staffing levels.

These heartwarming stories show the lengths people will go to in a crisis to help others.

Staff also offered their own spare rooms to accommodate colleagues.

Em Wilkinson-Brice, deputy chief executive and chief nurse, was one of the many members of staff who spent more than 24 hours at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to help look after its patients.

She has been nominated to collect an award on behalf of all of those in the NHS across Devon who made the extra effort.

Elswhere, Carole, 59 and Kiernon Barnes 62, have dedicated their lives to helping Exeter’s homeless. They have won a Caring Communities Champion award.

Many homeless and less fortunate citizens in Exeter know they will always have somebody to turn to thanks to the vital work of the husband and wife team.

Every Sunday for the last five years the duo have been out in all weathers setting up tables in the city centre and providing nourishing hot food for up to 80 people.

As well as a wholesome meal they hand out biscuits, loaves of bread, rolls, cakes and fruit. This can be eaten there with extra taken away for later. Hot beverages are also provided.

In addition, they regularly purchase – out of their own funds – clothing; tents and sleeping bags.

These items are very much in demand.

Mr Barnes said: “I have been homeless myself and you don’t need any more inspiration to go and help others than that.

“If you’ve lost everything in life and you’re sat there on the street you can understand what people are about.

“I know what they’re going through, their needs, those living in halfway houses sheltered accommodation or whatever they’re in, I can understand it and that’s where my passion comes from.”