Allan hailed by first aid charity
An Uddingston shop manager who has raised funds to equip his store with a defibrillator and has helped to train dozens of people in lifesaving skills has been honoured at the Scottish First Aid Awards.
Allan Walker was named community champion at the prestigious ceremony run by St Andrew’s First Aid in recognition of his work as “an outstanding ambassador for promoting first aid and educating the local community”.
He is senior general manager at Curry’s in Birkenshaw trading estate and has raised thousands to provide vital training and equipment since joining the charity as a volunteer more than three years ago.
The store now has a public access defibrillator in place, with St Andrew’s saying its installation was “something the in-store team was passionate about, following the sad passing of a customer who suffered a cardiac arrest in the car park”.
Allan has raised more than £3700 which has also been used to train 74 members of the public and school pupils in how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, as well as running two St Andrew’s ready for life training programmes leading to workplace qualifications in emergency first aid and in mental health awareness.
The 51-year-old has also organised four first aid talks and demonstrations at his store’s Uddingston branch since joining St Andrew’s in November 2021 “with the purpose of giving back to his community and helping others”.
Allan says he is “honoured” to have received the community first aid champion award and added: “I take great pride in the volunteering work I do for St Andrew’s, and it’s very rewarding to have my commitment to such an important cause recognised.”
St Andrew’s First Aid chief executive Stuart Callison said: “Volunteers like Allan are the backbone of our charity – they keep us moving forward by ensuring vital first aid training and awareness is shared across the country.
“Allan’s dedication, commitment and results really stand out; his genuine passion to educate and support his local area to be equipped to save lives is truly honourable.”
More than 60 nominations were received for the nine categories of the 11th annual event run by the first aid charity, highlighting “exceptional examples of first aid intervention, skill or sharing best practice”.
Allan was presented with his award at a ceremony in Glasgow attended by 350 people, which was hosted by Go Radio presenter Gina McKie and featured entertainment from The Voice stars The Motown Brothers.