Today saw some of the most inspirational community heroes in Devon honoured at a special ceremony.
The Devon Community Honours took place at RHS Rosemoor in Torrington, North Devon, this afternoon where guests gathered to hear about some of the bravest and most dedicated people in the county.
The awards, held by Devon Live with headline sponsors Devon County Council, was hosted by Judi Spiers and celebrated individuals and groups from all walks of life.
Devon Live editor Richard Booth said: "Some live in small communities on Dartmoor and others live in the bustling centre of Exeter. From abseiling pensioners to kids making a difference.
"Some have triumphed over terrible adversity, while others have been nominated because of their unbelievable selflessness. Our nominees haven’t sought out recognition but those they have inspired have decided they deserve recognition.
"We set up this event to say thank you to those who don’t seek it out. I want to say a personal thanks to Devon County Council who are our headline sponsor, without them this couldn’t happen.
"I am sure they will echo my words when I say we have much to be proud of and to celebrate in our great county."
Here are all our wonderful winners:
Armed Forces and Emergency Service
Sgt Lee Langley
Sergeant Lee Langley is the neighbourhood Sgt for Brixham.
Lee has taken a proactive approach to tackling the drug problems that affect Paignton and Brixham.
Under Operation Olympic, Lee and his team have carried out numerous misuse of drugs acts warrants searching 92 premises and making 71 arrests for drug related offences with seizures of drugs with an estimated street value of £293,000.
Intelligence gathering and working closely with the community is key to this success with PCSO’s actively gathering intelligence to focus activity. Social media has also played its part with the highly successful Brixham Police Facebook page helping to promote this work and encourage the community to play its part.
Torbay’s scrutiny committee has recognised Lee’s achievements in this area.
NHS Snow Heroes
In the Armed Forces and Emergency Services category with the Snow Heroes of the NHS are being honoured.
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 countless workers who slept at work to maintain safe staffing levels.
These heart-warming stories show the lengths people will go to in a crisis to help others. Around 130 members slept at the hospital on make-shift beds, camp beds and mattresses in offices, the gym and an accommodation hub that was created.
Around 40 members of staff slept in local hotels which were generously offered to the hospital.
Staff also offered their own spare rooms to accommodate colleagues. The Beast from the East couldn’t beat our NHS nurses.
Caring Communities Champion
Carole and Kiernon Barnes
Carole, 59 and Kiernon Barnes 62, have dedicated their lives to helping Exeter’s homeless. Many homeless and less fortunate citizens in Exeter know they will always have somebody to turn to thanks to the vital work by 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 eighty people.
As well as a wholesome meal they hand out biscuits, loaves of bread, rolls, cakes and fruit. 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.”
Lisa Brooks
Lisa Brooks from Tiverton has been making communities and supporting individuals within her area.
She cares for 86 independent-living residents at the Tiverton Almshouse Trust in Tiverton.
Inclusive, professional yet approachable, pragmatic, intuitive, Lisa is an employee who sees her role as house manager as a vocation. She successfully bridges the divide between caring for each individual whilst engendering a strong and robust spirit of community that motivates everyone to care for each other.
Residents are over 60 years old with the majority over 80 and many in their 90’s. All residents, without exception, would say their lives are enriched by Lisa – not just her actions - and they are many - but by her presence.
She has nurtured and supported new residents who arrive having suffered loss or trauma, she has been alongside residents whilst they overcome (or try to overcome) mental health issues and she has accompanied those who need hospital or GP treatment and were too afraid to seek help. Through example, she encourages others (staff and residents) to build a strong community spirit based on inclusiveness and understanding that benefits everybody. She is the outward face of the charity.
Lisa more than embodies the Almshouse model of improving the health and wellbeing of residents. Many residents have described breathing a sigh of relief when Lisa is present. Things get done, people get cared for as individuals and a community spirit endures.
Community Hero
Janice Lilley
Janice is a recognisable face for all at her local recycling depot, collecting aluminium cans from her neighbourhood and surrounding areas without recognition, all year, in all weathers.
When she has collected sufficient amounts, she walks several miles to a recycling depot to sell them for 40p a kilo, then gives the proceeds to Rowcroft Hospice. This year alone she has donated more than £450.
She said: “Even though I’m in my 60s I feel that I’ve got something I can give back to my community. Rather than just sitting on my bottom and expecting hand-outs, I’d rather give back.”
Janice has enlisted the help of two nearby coffee shops and a small network of neighbours who help collect cans.
“I’ve been collecting cans for donkey’s years, and within the last five or six years I’ve managed to get a small network of the wider community coming on board and supporting this and getting behind it for the Rowcroft Hospice.
“Without people like Janice, we would not be able to provide our care to over 2000 local patients and their loved ones every year. The continuing support of our community is so important to us and we are very grateful for everything Janice has done.' Said Linda Dickin, Rowcroft Family and Friends Fundraising Officer
Mary Pugsley
Mary Pugsley was nominated for her work with Hair@theAcademy salon at the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education, providing education to workplace, tailor-made hairdressing and barbering qualifications for students. Learners predominantly are in care, are homeless, seeking asylum from abuse or have a learning disability and, as a result, experience significant barriers to learning opportunities. Hair@theAcademy has been successful in empowering and moving learners into employment, achieving outstanding success rates with 93 per cent of students going on to further education and/or employment.
Mary does more than teach her students hairdressing, she is like a second mother to them, taking time to sit and chat, building trust and a sense of belonging. One of life’s natural carers, she listens carefully to their life stories without judgement, offering a safe environment and hope. She often buys clothes and food to help ease them through the door of this life changing journey, so they feel equal and a valued member of the group.
To have the love, support, protection and education from Mary and her dedicated team is life changing for them. When they start many barely make eye contact, but with Mary’s encouragement, they gain a sense of achievement and leave with their heads held high.
John Doherty
John is the Vice Chairman of the Torquay Town Centre Partnership and owns Dot’s Pantry with his wife Dot.
He has witnessed an increase in street homelessness over recent years and has been the driving force behind a new campaign Change: Make it Count.
The scheme gives people other options to donate which will help those who are begging, instead of giving it to them on the street.
John has big retailers such as Mc Donald’s, Debenhams, Lloyds Bank as well as smaller independent retailers signed up to the scheme. So far it has been instrumental in bringing together retailers to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
“A number of retailers, the MP and one or two others put together a retail networking group to deal with issues on the high street” he said.
“When we sat down and worked out what the barriers were for people coming to town, anti-social behaviour was one of those barriers.
“We’re addressing several different barriers but that was the one I took on. We came up with an organisation called TASH (Torbay Against Street Homelessness) and so what we have done is we have put together a campaign to persuade customers not to give to beggars.
“If you give £10 to a beggar there is every likelihood that in the afternoon they’ll be in an ambulance. Instead we are encouraging people to help by putting money in a tin of which there are 28 in the town, or contribute via text message on their phone.
Devon Carer
Polly Barlow
Polly Barlow, from Exeter 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, where she qualified two years later.
She started from the bottom cleaning baths, making beds, cleaning toilets and apart from career breaks for her family, Polly has dedicated her life to the NHS and after her training 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 do their best for their patients.
She added: “No matter what field or speciality you're in your there to do the best that you can for the patients before they go home.
Linda Cornish
Linda from Uffculme has been caring for her adopted daughter Sarah, who has down syndrome for 20 years and has looked after 30 children in that time. She also has another adopted child, Peter with dyspraxia.
“It’s been a whirlwind of good times and not so good times,” she said. “It’s always been enjoyable though despite the ups and downs.
“We have all grown to become a close family. It’s what you call an ongoing battle to get the things you need for them. It’s not always easy to get what they need, or find things for them to do, it’s very challenging at times.
“We’ve worked all through that and after learning a lot about special needs and disabilities through having Peter and Sarah we decided we wanted to do something else and applied to be foster carers for Devon County Council and we have been doing that for 21 years.”
Linda and her husband are now both in their 60s and have decided to slow down a little.
“We are now doing organised respites for foster carers and are on call for emergencies for foster carers.”
Those who nominated her say she is a great carer and has a lot of selfless empathy for others. She is also a Devon County Council ambassador offering help and support for other groups and individuals in the Tiverton and Uffculme area.
Devon Mentor
Brian Sheehry
In North Devon, Brian Sheehry has been making a difference in Bideford where he runs the North Devon Brazilian Jiujitsu, transforming the lives of others including children who lack confidence and are a victim of bullying.
He said: “I've dealt with depression a lot in my life as a young man and I found after taking antidepressants for a while that exercise was a good way to keep that at bay.
“I spent most of my young adult life in exercise but it was only when I got to 30 that I discovered martial arts and Thai boxing and then through that I also discovered Brazilian jujitsu. Once I started jujitsu I never looked back.”
Brian used to live in Manchester where he trained before moving to Devon.
“The only downside to moving to Devon was that there were no jujitsu clubs down here so I decided I would just get some mats, put up some posters and see if anybody wanted to learn.
“That was two years ago and from there it's just snowballed, and I've come to discover that there's quite a lot of people who are interested in developing or learning martial arts. Now we have a little community that's linked to other jujitsu academies across the southwest.”
Brian goes above and beyond for no financial gain. Brian has literally built the club with his own hands from painting, putting flooring down, putting walls up and more.
Most of the adults who are regular club members have improved their health and are part of an amazing team thanks to Brian.
Environment Champion
Jo Cutler
Bideford’s Jo Cutler, 18, dedicates her time and energy to beach clean a section of coast from Greencliff to Hartland and Duck Pool to Bude. She was been nominated as an Environment Champion.
Despite the difficulty of the work and the desperation of this endless un-thanked task, she gets out there and cleans. Jo shifts sack loads of what she collects, from fishing netting and rope to plastic bottles from remote coves, over rocks and between tides that would cut her off. In addition, she produces educational resources for marine awareness and books to engage young children in the marine environment.
Jo posts on the Great British beach cleaners Facebook page to encourage others and show what can be done, she helps at Bude marine group events and she is studying a degree via the Open University and when possible works locally.
She said: “I do it every week, multiple times a week and it motivates me because I often find birds and things wrapped in net and it's really sad. I like bird watching and I like rock pooling a lot so it makes me really sad to think that all creatures share their home with all that rubbish.
“I have been doing it now for around five years and started after I found a Gannett caught in fishing wire. It proved to me that people don’t do enough to help. It is really bad in locations around North Devon, especially the more remote beaches.”
“I just think that everybody uses plastic so we're all responsible whether we live near the coast or not.”
DevonLive Special Recognition Honour - sponsored by Sitel UK LTD
Edna Cahill
Edna Cahill has been awarded a DevonLive Special Recognition Honour.
At 94, age is no barrier for Edna Cahill who for many years has been preparing Christmas lunch for the Churches Together at AGE UK in Cowick Street.
In 2014 Edna found the heavy lifting of dishes too much to cope with but still prepares all the veg for over 40 people who would be alone on Christmas Day.
“I had a poorly husband for a long time and when he died, I felt that somebody else must need me somewhere,” she said.
For 27 years Edna ran the Exeter Blood Donation sessions finding venues and volunteering in handing out tea and biscuits. She received Volunteer of the Year in 2015 from Blood Donors UK. In the past 18 years Edna has worked at Hospiscare making teas in the visitor’s café, and knits for the charity shop.
Today she still volunteers her time for Hospiscare and when DevonLive got in touch, she had just returned from ironing 67 pillow cases.
“If I can do anything I will, it’s surprising what you can get out of volunteering. I’m sure if more people tried it, they would enjoy it.
“I first got involved when it opened because the man in charge knew me when I worked at the RD&E and drove me mad until I joined them.
“I’m in the coffee bar once a fortnight, and I go in on a Monday to do the ironing and if they’re short of anyone I’ll go and help out on the ward. I think I’m the oldest volunteer age wise and length wise at Hospiscare.
“It’s a lovely place, it really is. People get the wrong impression of a place like that.
Edna has also completed four charity abseils off the Princesshay Car Park in Exeter, her last one done at the age of 90.
“It was blowing a gale,” she added. “Just as I was about to get my second foot off a gust of wind came up and blew me sideways.”
Fred Grimwood
In Barnstaple, a man, described as an ‘absolute inspiration’ has been given a DevonLive Special Recognition Honour.
Fred Grimwood will always give up his spare time to help others around him and never asks for anything in return. He moved to Devon with his wife and children 13-years ago after many visits on holiday and falling in love with the area.
“Everyone was so nice here, absolutely wonderful. So when people started asking me if I could get involved in the community I said 'absolutely'. I was quite happy to do anything,” he said.
He organises several charity events and organises quiz nights to help raise money for struggling companies on the brink of closing down and always goes above and beyond, often raising over £1000 at each event and often buying the raffle prizes out of his own money.
“All the people who are coming to donate their money you know to these places is fantastic,” he added.
“I've only got to say I'm doing a quiz or whatever it might be and they come and support. What more can you ask for?”
Fred has done charity and support work for more than 40 years and has helped the likes of Age Concern, Clarity, Freedom Centre, The Breakaway Club and Amigos.
Once a month Fred goes to Pilton House to brighten there day with activities and his infectious personality where they all look forward to his visits.
Fred continues to work for Barnstaple Town Council to keep streets clean and tidy when he can. Although he has retired he is busier than ever with marathons, abseiling, sport events, he has rowed across the English Channel and probably hardest of all pulled a double decker bus from London to Brighton!
Good Neighbour - sponsored by Walter H Squires
Karen Hogan
Karen has endured a tough time in the last few years overcoming her battle with cancer. Despite this she has been there for her neighbours in their time of need.
Last autumn, a neighbour became very ill and found herself alone at home at the age of 54, not able to work. She had 27 falls most of which she rescued her from. She became almost immobile and unable to go upstairs for a period of time. She was unable to feed herself.
Then Karen decided to cook for her every night for several weeks, walking down to her door in all weathers with plates of food. On many occasions, she was the only visitor of the day.
Every night her neighbour opened her door to a smiley face with a wonderful supper and her neighbour will never forget this kindness bestowed upon her. During the last 12 months, she has been the main contact and has visited on several occasions to find her neighbour on the floor needing assistance from an ambulance.
Eventually diagnosed with MS and after a long recovery, her neighbour is now back to work; something she would not have been able to do without Karen.
Voluntary or Community Sector Champion - sponsored by Torridge District Council
Barnstaple Ability FC
The team of volunteers at Barnstaple Ability FC coach around 40 players with additional needs including Down syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Huntingdons disease, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, learning difficulties and mental health issues.
Melanie Regan, volunteer coach and chairperson for Barnstable Ability FC said it was great for the players to enjoy the day with other similarly abled footballers.
“Our players love being part of what we call the Barny Army and coming to training once a week.
“We're always looking for new players and anybody else who has a disability who would like to come along is welcome to training, however, match day is what it's all about. It’s an amazing feeling when you see the smiles on their faces.”
Melanie praised Pete, Steve, Clare, Sue, Wendy, Lynn, Sandy and Alun who give so much time to the club and all the helpers who travel to each tournament.
“The club aims to be as successful as we can be and for every player to have the opportunity to play football. There is a team for everyone whatever their disability. You don't have to be a particularly brilliant footballer; you just need to come along and be part of the team.”
Coaches run training events, travel around the country for matches, tie shoe laces, sweep changing rooms, sort out kit, resolve issues with players and parents, arrange trips that create memories and make dreams come true.
The club is completely self-funded and run by a group of volunteers.
Nigel and Becky Harris
Nigel and Becky Harris from Freedom Community Alliance in Barnstaple have been awarded the Voluntary or Community Sector Champion honour for helping the homeless and those in need of support in North Devon.
This involves working with a range of vulnerable groups including homeless people, those suffering from addiction issues, people with poor physical and mental health, debt and poverty and those who simply want to improve their health or improve their life skills.
Nigel said that it is not just about the people you see on the streets, it’s about the ‘hidden homeless’ who are sofa surfing or living in their vehicles.
Mr Harris got involved in the charity in a voluntary basis in 2006 with consultancy work and fundraising. He then became a trustee and later CEO in April 2014.
He said: “I'd heard about it too through my church and tried to accept it as an opportunity to try something different give something back and see what I could do to be helping people.
“We have several projects ongoing at the moment including managing our open access data centre.
“We have a project where we feed and look after people who have complex needs, have found themselves homeless, suffer drug addiction, loneliness or mental health issues. We provide a hub space where we work with multiple agencies like probation drug services and North Devon and Torridge's housing teams and try to join the dots for people to give some support and help to deal with their day to day problems.
Volunteer of the Year sponsored
Daniel Turton
Making a difference in North Devon is Daniel Turton who has spent more than 20 years volunteering in the town.
In the last five years he has gone from strength to strength with the time that he spends with the youth of the town.
He helps with the youth town council to encourage them to think and commit to things that could benefit the town and community. He is a school governor at the Academy and is also a cub leader.
He dedicates every Sunday for eight months of the year to 350 children who he coaches rugby for.
He said: “I just want to help people where I can, and I find time because I don't watch much telly.
“I just like seeing other people benefit. I get pleasure out of seeing all my hard work bring others pleasure and helping the community be a better place.
“I prefer helping children, somebody has got to help them as sometimes they get a lot of bad press for being naughty, but they're limited to what the adults will do to help them.
“You'd be surprised how much you enjoy it and how many new friends you meet. It's not until you get stuck in you realise you meet plenty of new friends and a real buzz out of helping.
“Ilfracombe is a very good little town; the community spirit here is amazing. There's all sorts of things going on and lots of good bits; I'm just one of many.”
He is an independent voluntary Director for One Ilfracombe a government initiative to improve the town which helps many different areas from drugs and alcohol, careers for teens, health and wellbeing and even helped train over 400 people in dementia awareness and make the town dementia friendly.
Elizabeth Holt
Elizabeth is an amazing '88 years young' lady.
She spent her career teaching, 20 years of which she specialised in teaching young people with special needs showing great patience and care.
Since retiring she has volunteered for several organisations over many years including the CAB, talking newspapers, Heanton Church lunches for the elderly, lonely & disabled, British Heart Foundation shop, and Heanton Church Pastoral team.
Unable to drive she is often seen motoring along on her mobility buggy, usually on a mission to help someone else.
Elizabeth is always cheerful, always has a smile and thinks she 'does nothing out of the ordinary’; if volunteers are needed she is the first to offer. She has no plans to take things easy as she like to keep busy and 'help the old dears who need her' most of whom are much younger than her.
Young Heroes - sponsored by Exeter Jockey Club
Amelia and Sammie-Jo Mason
Amelia and Sammie-Jo, aged 14 and 12 respectively, are being recognised for their work as young carers, helping to look after both their parents on a daily basis. Their father has dementia and is registered blind. Their mother has COPD and arthritis.
Mum Pat said, “As a family we never complain, we just get on with life. We honestly don't know what we would do without the support of our girls.”
The sisters’ College Tutor, Rob Wilkinson, was thrilled for the pair: “I am extremely proud of Amelia and Sammie-Jo for all of their incredible work, both inside and out of the College environment. To be able to dedicate so much time to care for their parents, as well as keeping on top of College life and the demands it brings, is truly inspirational. I could not be happier for them and their award; this is something that they truly deserve.”
Beth Horton
It has taken Beth Horton seven years to start getting her 'spark' back after suffering a stroke out of the blue when she was only two-and-a-half years old
When her mum watched her toddler suddenly fall to the ground she had no idea she was about to witness her having a stroke.
That’s because they are far less common in children, but their prognosis is often better because the brain is able to repair unlike an adult’s.
This December marks seven years since Beth Horton changed from being a healthy and lively two-and-a-half year old, to an anxious girl with life-long disabilities.
It is only this year her parents Maria and Chris have begun to see her old ‘spark’ return and get a glimpse of the person she could become in the future.
A vital lifeline to regain some of the confidence she once had has been her beloved pet dog Finn and learning to bake.
Chloe Martin, 14,
Chloe Martin is an example to us all.
It starts with caring for her mum, it extends to cooking at the local community centre over the summer, to being a volunteer play ranger, to even working every Christmas to provide a Christmas meal for isolated elderly people.
Chloe’s mother Amanda said she was incredibly proud of her daughter.
She said: “She’s been a young carer since she was five years old, she has raised lots of money for Rowcroft Hospice through walks, sales and all sorts of other things.
“She is an exceptional teenager, you would never know she was a young carer as she tries to keep everything as normal as possible. She is doing exceptionally well at school, she’s been in the top class since day one and hopes to become a doctor when she is old enough.
“I’m so proud of her, I can’t put it into words.”
“Chloe just seemed to ease into it and, even though I have had carers in the house, she didn’t like them being here, so she stood in to help look after me, run the home; she does everything really.
“She doesn’t think she’s doing anything exceptional, but she is.”
Leah Martin
Brave Leah has been left with lasting effects of an aggressive brain tumour - but she still wants to help others.
Leah who lives in Paignton, was diagnosed with a high-grade, medulloblastoma brain tumour at the age of two and underwent several operations, as well as gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
She continues to undergo MRI scans every six months to check that the tumour has not started to regrow.
Leah is a pupil at Roselands Primary School and despite having to live with the aftermath effects of having an aggressive tumour she still thinks of others and has signed up to take part in a Superhero Fun Run to help find a cure for brain tumours, and hopes other children will sign up too
They have set up a fundraising group called Leah’s Fairy Fund under the umbrella of pioneering national charity, Brain Tumour Research and have raised close to £12,000 to date, having held a number of fundraising events including: haircuts, body wax and shaves, as well as supporters taking part in Wear A Hat Day for brain tumour events, an abseil and running in the London Marathon and the Torbay half marathon.
Millie Twigg
Brave Crediton student Millie Twigg went under the razor to shave her head to raise funds for Alopecia UK.
The year eight Queen Elizabeth’s School pupil is hoping to raise awareness of the syndrome.
Millie’s total currently stands at £1,780, which is nearly 18 times more than her initial goal. On top of this, Millie donated all of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides free real-hair wigs to children that have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other illnesses.
At the time Millie looked forward to experimenting with her hairstyles as she grew it back to its original length.
Millie said; “I am very excited to have been chosen as a Young Hero but the real hero is my brother who suffers from alopecia and was the inspiration behind my fundraising efforts. So I would like to dedicate this honour to him.”
Principal of QE Rupert Poole commented; “We are all very proud of Millie’s fundraising efforts for Alopecia UK and this subsequent county recognition of her achievements. She is a fantastic role model for her peers.”
Molly Harris
Molly is a lifesaver, and if it wasn’t for her, her stepfather may no longer be with us.
The 15 year old performed CPR on Pete Connors while waiting 11 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at their home in Bideford.
Pete had suffered a cardiac arrest at the age of just 39 and would had died had it not been for Molly's quick thinking.
Her bravery won Molly a prestigious St John Ambulance’s Everyday Heroes award in London.
It was on the morning of Monday, January 29, this year, that Molly’s mum, Sarah Connors woke up to find her husband not breathing.
His face had gone purple and he was foaming at the mouth.
Sarah said: “I didn’t know what was wrong or have a clue what to do, so I called for help and Molly sprang into action.
“She told me to call an ambulance, picked her dad up and laid him on the floor, then tilted his head back, put her hands on his chest and started to perform CPR.
Minutes seemed like hours and everything was going in slow motion, plus Peter was making strange noises – I panicked and thought he was dead, but Molly reassured me that it meant oxygen was getting to his brain so it was ok.
“I couldn't believe what was happening to us – I was calling him and asking him to wake up.
“Molly just carried on and kept saying ‘he's going to be ok mum’ then showed me how to give CPR so I could take over the chest compressions, as she was getting tired.”
Doctors said the chances of surviving an incident like this are just six per cent.
Spencer Baxter and Max Day
These two little legends took on a massive bike ride challenge to raise money for Women vs Cancer.
Spencer Baxter, 7, from Cheriton Fitzpaine and Max Day, 7 (both now 8) from Alphington cycled 24 miles from Exeter to Dawlish ferrying across to Exmouth then coming all the way back to Exeter.
Spencer’s mum Sarah Baxter last year lost one of her best friends Kim Jenkins to breast cancer and has been raising money in her memory for the past 12 months, her son Spencer has seen how much heart break this has caused his mother and has been helping her ever since by joining in with the fundraising, he has been carol singing, running Easter egg bingo, as well as taking on this bike ride.
They raised over £1200 which allowed Sarah, who will be taking on the Women V Cancer Cycle India challenge, cycling a distance of approximately 400 km across rural Rajasthan in India to complete her own fundraising cycle ride which she returned from in November.
She said: “They have been a really big help to help me raise money for the charity. They’re really proud of themselves for helping and we’re proud of them too.
Stephen Adams
Stephen joined the Torbay Volunteer Police Cadets as the unit was set up.
Stephen has great leadership skills and took up a cadet instructor role early on - helping to support the other cadets. He has formally been delivering lessons to the newest recruits who started in September and his inputs have been very well received by new recruits.
Volunteer leaders who have worked with him when delivering lessons have been very complimentary. When Stephen turns 18 he wishes to become a Volunteer Police Cadet leader and is beginning that process.
He also intends to join the Special Constabulary. Stephen is a Red Cross event first aider and not long after he started in cadets he came across a road traffic accident and stopped to administer first aid and waited for Police arrival so he could brief the traffic officer.
Stephen is a dedicated, skilled and inspiring cadet who is supporting other young people to build their skills and confidence and to expand their knowledge in the Torbay Volunteer Police Cadets Unit.
About our judges
Christine Fraser MA BA (Hons)
Christine's teaching career included posts in Somerset, Cyprus and the University of Exeter before changing career to run the Arts at Dartington Hall Trust, including the Dartington International Summer School of Music, and the Rosebarn community theatre project in Minneapolis. After project managing AgriNet (online skills for land-based industries), Women into Management training, and EUTELSAT (European Training via Satellite), she retired to take up community volunteering in St David's neighbourhood. Having led Exeter-in-Bloom since 2013, she is now on the Committee of RHS Britain in Bloom SW which involves judging from South Gloucestershire to the Scilly Isles.
Cllr. Roger Croad - Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Public Health, Transportation & Environment.
A former Army Officer, Roger served for 25 years before beginning a second career as Head of Engineering Safety London Underground. He left that post in 1997 and set up a consultancy in Devon. In 1999 he was persuaded by his daughter to stand for South Hams District Council “because you are always moaning about government”. In 2005, with a boundary change, Ivybridge became a single County Council Division and Roger was elected. In 2009 he was appointed to a Cabinet position and remains so with the added responsibilities of Chair of the Police & Crime Panel for Devon & Cornwall and Lead Member for the Armed Forces in Devon.
Rich Booth – Editor of DevonLive.com
Rich spent most of his life living and working in Devon, starting his journalist career in Exeter. He helped found DevonLive as news editor before moving on to become the website’s editor in June this year. Under his editorship the website has grown to one of the biggest regional site in the country attracting roughly 10million page views a month. He has championed the Devon community, working on several campaigns to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the county. He added: “I’m delighted to be a judge on an event such as this. Devon is a county built on community and to be able to celebrate just some of our amazing people, who our reporters cover on a daily basis, is a huge honour.”
Rosalie Robison - Executive Assistant to the Lord-Lieutenant
Rosalie has worked for Devon County Council for 29 years, currently managing the Lieutenancy Office as the Executive Assistant to HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon for 10 years and for the last 6 also managing the Coroners Service. In these roles Rosalie spends a lot of time around the County, particularly with the Lord-Lieutenant, meeting people and hearing about some of the amazing work that is carried out in communities and in businesses. The Lieutenancy is involved with all walks of life in the County, visiting groups that have done some good work which needs recognising, talking to businesses about raising the profile of the great things they are doing and also arranging Royal Visits to the county amongst many other things.
Jim Parker – Associate Editor Devon Weeklies
Jim is in his 44th year as a journalist and 39th year with the Herald Express. He joined as a senior reporter and has progressed through the ranks as crime reporter, deputy news editor, news editor, assistant editor and deputy editor. Jim is now Associate Editor of the Devon weeklies – the Herald Express, Express and Echo, North Devon Journal and Mid Devon Gazette
