Do you know a Cheshire hero who has stepped up during the pandemic?
High Sheriff’s awards
Cheshire High Sheriff Nick Hopkinson is looking for 25 individuals and 25 organisations to honour
“2020 has been such a difficult year for so many people, but it has also been a year when many ordinary people have recognised the plight of others and done extraordinary things to help them. It really has been amazing to watch communities come together in adversity to help, support and look out for the vulnerable and most affected. I want to seek out and reward those individuals, organisations or businesses who have gone the extra mile and who have made a difference to others. The winners will be presented with a framed certificate, which represents the gratitude of their community who voted for them and the grateful thanks of the office of the High Sheriff in his capacity as the Queen’s representative for law and order,” says Nick.
“Because of the pandemic I’ve not been able to visit as much of the county as I would have liked in my year in office. Presenting these awards gives me the chance to seek out and thank good people in Cheshire who refused to let the virus win.
“There are lots of people in Cheshire who deserve the thanks of the county and I know the Queen will approve of these certificates being presented to people and organisations who have really stepped up during this crisis. Please nominate any individual, organisation, business or community you believe deserves recognition for what they have done this year.”
The awards will be presented personally by the High Sheriff in the new year (conditions and restrictions permitting).
Send your nomination with no more than 50 words explaining what your nominee has done, together with their contact details to Donna Martin at donnapa@highsheriffofcheshire.co.uk by noon on December 31.
Judging is underway
Thank you to all of those who sent in nominations for the Cheshire Life 2020 Keep Life Local Awards. Across our eight categories, we received almost 2,468 nominations. Editor Joanne Goodwin said: “This volume of nominations is a fantastic testament to our county and to all of you who truly believe in supporting local and championing our independent businesses.
“Our judging is now underway. Follow the campaign updates at cheshirelife.co.uk and through social media with #CLLocalAwards #ShopCheshire.
“We look forward to being able to share with you our category winners and our overall winner of Independent Cheshire Business 2020.”
Delia leads the way
The winner of the Cheshire Life competition, where we asked readers to nominate a local hero who has stepped up during lockdown to help those who needed it most, is Delia Hampson-Wild, of Bramhall.
Delia set up the Bramhall Community Hub five years ago to offer company and support to the elderly residents of Bramhall. When the first lockdown forced Delia to close its doors, it didn’t stop her from taking her caring to the next level.
“When lockdown started the elderly people who used the Hub were more isolated than ever, so I cooked and baked and took cakes and meals to their homes. I also heard that NHS workers needed scrub bags, so set about making these – and organising my ladies to help. We made more than 2,000 scrub bags and then started knitting thousands of mask extenders – the little device that holds masks in place around the back of the head, as hooking behind the ears can make them very sore.
“I feel quite humble having been nominated by people in Bramhall to win this prize. I am not one for the limelight; I prefer to stay in the background. I want to say all this wasn’t just me, I just organised it.”
Delia has already been able to claim part of her prize – a shopping extravaganza at Hoopers, Wilmslow. “It was wonderful. The ladies there looked after me so well and were so lovely. The clothes I have been able to bring home are just beautiful and I shall wear them with such pleasure.”
Delia’s efforts are an example of how the drive and energy of one person can ignite a community. She may wish to call everything she achieved a team effort, but every team needs a leader, someone to inspire, to bring people together and to show the way, and in Delia, Bramhall certainly has that person.
As well as her personal shopping trip to Hoopers, Delia will enjoy: an Envy facial with Dr Nyla Raja, founder of Medispa in Alderley Edge and Liverpool; a teeth-whitening treatment at Re-enhance, in Hale; a make-over from make-up artist Armand Beasley; a blow-dry and styling session with Artisté; a Morning Garden Experience for two at Carden Park Hotel & Spa; and a photoshoot with Cheshire Life.
Cheshire Life’s Kate Houghton who organised the competition said: “We received dozens of nominations for this fabulous competition, from across Cheshire, citing so many wonderful people our choice was almost impossible. From ex-nurses who stepped away from their families and rejoined the NHS at the time of greatest need to those who established a hot meals service for vulnerable elderly people, from the gin-maker who switched production to hand-sanitiser to the friend who visited the parents of those too far away to do so, Cheshire is filled with good people who deserve our applause. We are grateful.”
