Pride of Shropshire Awards 2010
Teina McGarry had zero self-confidence when she went for a job interview as a volunteer worker with family support service Home-Start.
Three years later, the 44-year-old was presented with the Pride of Shropshire 2009 top title for her contribution to life in the county.
Now, we’re doing it all again. Teina followed in the footsteps of Shrewsbury community group Meole’s Got Talent, which was the inaugural winner. Who will be the third Pride of Shropshire champion, and who will lift our nine other trophies?
This year, the search is once again under way for an overall champion, who will be chosen from the winners of nine individual categories.
This year’s individual categories are for:
- Best New Business idea
- Courage
- Good Neighbour
- Environmental Project
- Special Young Person
- Healthy Life
- Community Group
- Carer
- Learner
For more details on each category, plus information on how to make a nomination click here.
The huge learning curve of last year’s winner, Teina, was recognised by judges who chose her for the individual Learner Award.
Based at Home-Start’s Whitchurch office, she appeared to have no self-confidence when she went for her job interview three years ago, recalled her co-ordinator Delia Beckett.
But Teina went on to support two families in difficulty as well as attending development programmes.
Delia said: “I have watched as Teina has increased in self-confidence and has made a difference to our organisation.”
Teina’s was one of nine category awards. The Courage Award went to Adam Edwards and Christopher Morris. The pair, from Windsor Road, Oswestry, led elderly residents to safety from their homes at Windridge Court, Llwyn Road, following a suspected arson attack.
Volunteers of the year were Severn Hospice fundraisers Reginald Steventon and Nancy Wood. Reg turned 90 in March and Nancy was just short of her 80th birthday, but they still travel the length and breadth of Shropshire and beyond, raising £30,000 during the past 20 years.
The Entrepreneur Award was given to David Riley from Wellington who, after a distinguished career in the Shropshire fire service, launched family retail firm Heritage Pine and then another company, Rebound Sports.
The Carrot and Carp Project won last year’s Environmental Project Award. The site at St Martins, near Oswestry, is run as a fishing pool and allotments.
Judges heard how Val Davey dedicated much of her time to helping fellow residents in Lindale Court, Copthorne, Shrewsbury, making her a worthy winner of the 2009 Good Neighbour Award.
Sven Worrow won the Healthy Life Award for his involvement in the Changing Tracks alcohol project in Belmont, Shrewsbury, working with young people who are abusing alcohol, helping to raise their self-esteem.
Student Rachel Shaw, 16, from Oswestry, a British Red Cross carer, was a worthy winner of the Carer Award.
Lawley Green Space Group in Telford won the Community Group Award for their efforts in developing a two-acre plot for environmental and wildlife projects to create a better sense of community on their housing estate.
If you know a person, or group of people, who are equally as deserving as our class of 2009, nominate them for a 2010 Pride of Shropshire award from January 29.
By Carl Jones
