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Forest Review Community Hero Awards 2025 Full Video
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00:00Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and a very warm, warm being the operative word, welcome, to Forest Hills Golf Club this evening for our third Forest Review Local Heroes presentation evening.
00:13And I know that we're going to have a fabulous evening if the last two have been anything to go by.
00:18My name is Liz Davis and I'm the regional editor for this part of Wales and the Borders, which means it's my privilege to look after the Forest Review and its sister papers.
00:27As you can probably glean from the accent, I'm not from the Forest of Dean, but what I have found in my time working here is that this is a community which is packed with people who are willing to go the extra mile to help their neighbours and to support anyone in need of a helping hand.
00:45We first came up with the idea of these awards three years ago, over a cup of tea in our Lindley office, in the good old days when we had a Lindley office.
00:54And it originated because we'd heard that it was something called National Thank You Day.
01:01And we were sitting in a corner thinking, wouldn't it be a lovely idea to be able to allow our readers to say thank you to people who had done the good deed or who had done something amazing in the community.
01:13By the time we'd finished the copy and three or four boxes of chocolate hobnobs, we decided to launch a whole Local Hero Award scheme.
01:24And over the past three years, we have been absolutely blown away with the amazing stories that we've heard of local people who are absolutely true local heroes.
01:35These nights and these awards are extra special to us because not only do they give you the chance to say thank you to the people that you have nominated, but they give us a chance to say thank you to you, to our readers and our advertisers and our supporters.
01:51Because a local paper is only as strong as the community it serves.
01:57And if tonight and the past two award ceremonies that we've had are anything to go by, we at the Forest Review are exceptionally lucky.
02:06And we certainly won't be running out of stories anytime soon.
02:10I think it's now the time to do what my mother would say and stop buffling and get on with it.
02:15And I know that you're going to be impressed and moved by the stories that you hear tonight in the same way that we have been doing the judging.
02:23I know tonight you're going to be so impressed by the stories that you hear, not only of our local heroes, but the charities that you're going to hear from.
02:31So I'm now going to attempt to get my way off the stage without falling or tripping over a wire or strangling myself.
02:37And I'm going to hand over to our two forest heroes, to Carol and to Heather, who are going to take you through the awards and carry on the evening.
02:47So please welcome Carol and Heather.
02:56Thank you, ladies.
02:57Good evening, everyone.
03:00Thanks to everyone that's come.
03:01I'm just amazed at how many people we've got here.
03:05It's just incredible.
03:06Thank you so much.
03:07Liz spoke today about community.
03:10And I was going to talk and take a moment to talk about something that shapes who we are, how we live and how we grow, which is community.
03:19At its core, community is about connection.
03:22It's about knowing that we're not alone and that we belong to something larger than ourselves.
03:28Whether it's your neighbourhood, your workplace, your school or an online group of people who share your interests.
03:36Community offers a sense of shared purpose and support.
03:41When we come together, we lift each other up.
03:44We celebrate our victories, big or small.
03:47We lend a hand during tough times and share ideas, traditions, values.
03:53A strong community can inspire, change, encourage growth and create a safety net that helps us all move forward together.
04:02Community also matters because it teaches us empathy.
04:06It reminds us that every person has a story.
04:10And when we listen, when we truly engage, we build bridges across differences.
04:16That connection makes us more compassionate, more understanding, more human.
04:24In a world that can often feel disconnected, investing in community is one of the most powerful things we can do.
04:32It's where change begins, it's where belonging grows, and it's where we find strength, not just in ourselves, but in each other.
04:43And this community that we belong to is incredible.
04:47So, we're going to kick off the wards tonight with the community hero.
04:54And our winner has dedicated so much of her life to serve in our community.
05:00Before retiring, she worked at District Council supporting local communities and later became a town councillor herself.
05:09Even after stepping down from the council around five years ago, she's never stopped giving back.
05:16During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was instrumental in setting up Lydney's Community Emergency Group,
05:24rallying volunteers to help those who are isolated or unwell.
05:28Through her tireless efforts and determination, she helped organise food and medicine deliveries,
05:35offering vital support to some of the most vulnerable in our town when they needed it most.
05:42Our winner has also been a passionate supporter of Cancer Research UK,
05:47Forest of Dean Relay for Life, both behind the scenes and as a chair for several years.
05:53Her commitment to fundraising and supporting charitable causes has had a lasting impact on many lives.
06:02More recently, our winner has faced her own personal health challenges,
06:07but true to her generous spirit, she hasn't let it slow her down
06:11and is now raising funds and awareness for Parkinson UK,
06:16continuing to turn her own experiences into strength for many others.
06:22Our winner has been described as selfless and an inspiration to those who know her
06:27and offer compassion, guidance and kindness and support to others.
06:33She might not seek the spotlight, but she absolutely deserves to be a local hero in every sense.
06:41So I'd like to call Matt Bishop up, please, to open the envelope.
06:45So our Community Hero Award, sponsored by Roof Cure 247, is...
06:57Tess Tremlett.
07:11Do you want to say anything?
07:28Actually, those who do know me, I've never stuck on words, but I am today.
07:40Thank you very much.
07:41I can't believe it.
07:43I have loved working with communities.
07:46It's been my absolute pleasure.
07:49Fundraising has always been on the agenda, but more so about communities and how they work, because they are the key to so much of life, and how life should be.
08:07A strong community, a cohesive community, is a community that's rich in so many ways, and I thank you for this.
08:14I'm sure everyone in this room is a winner, but tonight I greatly receive this.
08:20Thank you very much.
08:24Good evening, everyone.
08:25We're the mountain deck of the Forage Review, which is a tall one.
08:30The Good Neighbour Award has been sponsored by 10 cars of Gloucester.
08:34The winner of this year's Good Neighbour Award received several nominations and has been described as someone who is always ready to help others in any way they can.
08:42They are a regular visitor to one of their neighbours who is disabled, giving support and encouragement and helping to lift his mood, and is on hand to help as his neighbour has a risk of falling.
08:54A keen gardener who regularly share the produce from their garden with neighbours, and also helps a number of them with cutting their grass.
09:02An active member of Flaxley Church, and I understand a driving force behind Flaxley Fate, which I think is tomorrow if anybody wants to go along.
09:12They bring neighbours together by organising community events, such as barbecues and carouselings and collections donated to charity.
09:20Also, an active volunteer in the annual Poppy Appeal.
09:25I will now get the gold envelope and tell you who's the winner.
09:29The winner of this year's Good Neighbour Award is Mr. David Harris.
09:42Mr. David Harris.
09:56Bishop, again, to come forward.
10:17Well, can I just say thank you for those that nominated me?
10:26I don't do these things for recognition.
10:30It's all about the community and what you can do to help your community.
10:35This is my way of just getting people together in the community and having a bit of fun and a bit of joy and any help you can give.
10:47And it does work both ways. They do help me a lot as well.
10:52Okay, so thank you very much. Thank you.
12:41or procedure, this is genuine care and determination. These three officers
12:47physically pushed through dense overwrap, waved into overrun areas and did the
12:53legwork to find the culverts and water paths that could give Lindley long-term
12:58relief, brought hope to residents frequently affected by flooding and
13:02restored an area of Lindley to its natural function as a flood buffer.
13:08Their actions represented the very best of public service, a combination of
13:14knowledge, humility, determination and care for the community they serve. They have
13:22done more than respond to a crisis, they have helped re-engineer our town's
13:27resilience. So the winners are, if I can ask Matt to come forward.
13:38So we've got Alex Trift, Joe Baker and Nathan Chode.
13:45Alex and Joe can't be with us tonight but we've got Nathan here.
13:52Yeah, thanks everyone. It's nice to be with us here.
13:59Yeah, thanks everyone. It's nice to be recognised for work that we do usually where people don't
14:06see us. And hopefully the work we do will help everyone in that area of
14:08that area of Lindley that we, well, try to help really. So, fingers crossed. We'll see you at the next
14:13rainstorm. But hopefully the work we do will help everyone in that area of Lindley that we, well, try to help really. So,
14:16fingers crossed. We'll see you at the next rainstorm but we'll carry on with all our good work.
14:23Right, we move on to the Young Hero Award. The winner of this year's Young Hero Award.
14:30has been nominated for dedicated work for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
14:37having been around the Poppy Appeal for as long as they can remember. However, as they've grown, they've''
15:05However, as they've grown, they've chosen to take on an active role within the appeal, particularly in the Lydnian surrounding villages.
15:12They assist with the organisation of poppy stock, helping to make up and distribute the boxes and tins, manning stands, dealing with the public, collection of boxes after Remembrance Sunday, and helping at the counting days and tidying up afterwards.
15:27This volunteering role can be very hard work, but they are always enthusiastic, engaged, personable and positive, and recently received an appreciation award for their services to the Royal British Lydnian's Poppy Appeal.
15:43They are part of a team that have raised over £20,280 for the Poppy Appeal in the last year, and the total for the last five years is in excess of £100,000.
15:54This enables the RBL to provide their veterans with house relief, energy grants, dementia care, recovery centres, and the chance to compete in the Invictus Games, among other things.
16:09Young people like our winner are the future of the RBL's Poppy Appeal.
16:13The Poppy Appeal manager for the South West and South East Midlands team commented that they are so grateful that the help that the winner has provided and the enthusiasm, because she adds so much to the team.
16:27They are caring, considerate, and a humorous person, and is certainly an asset to the community.
16:33And personally, I know that she's been very close to awards over the last few years.
16:41So, if I can ask Joe Hume and Son Funeral Directors to come up.
16:55If you'd like to let me know the winner, please.
17:03The winner is Abby Redge.
17:14Would you like to say something, Abby?
17:28No?
17:31Thank you very much, Abby.
17:32This person has put his life into volunteering with SARA for a long time.
17:44They volunteer at two different stations and always have time for both stations and still manages to get all the work done.
17:53They're a great help and loved by all the crew and are just outstanding.
17:57This person is so brave and even though they do not go out on the boats or the land vehicles,
18:03this person helps by being in charge of the radios and CCTV, making sure all volunteers are counted for
18:11and everyone and all vehicles are safe before they go out to help those in danger.
18:16This person directs calls from police and coast guards and passes messages to the crew
18:22and their job is critical to the rescue as more lives could be lost without this communication.
18:29They are an incredible person and never really receives a credit for all their years in service
18:34and this is why he has been nominated.
18:38They are so proud of the efforts that they give others and the time that they put into this is truly the best.
18:46This person has been through so much in his personal life but they never let it get them down
18:52and their job of saving people.
18:55They are a true inspiration and deserve this so much
18:59and it would be an amazing moment to finally get their first ever award after all the work they've put into this.
19:06So Matt, if you'd like to come up and announce the winner, please.
19:14And this award is sponsored by Beaches Garage but unfortunately they can't be here with us tonight.
19:27So this award, close to my heart, blue light, Merv Fleming.
20:01Should I say a few words?
20:06I don't want this.
20:11Is this all I get for 30 years?
20:16Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply moved on it and I'm going to post that cry again in a minute.
20:22But I'm accepting this on behalf of all the volunteers in SARA.
20:26For those of you who don't know what SARA is, check with somebody on your table because somebody in the table is over us.
20:35The Seven Area Rescue Association.
20:38Your lifeboats down the estuary, your lifeboats on the Y, your lifeboats on the mire.
20:44Your mountain rescue teams for the cliffs of the valley of the Y.
20:47Your flood rescue teams in Thames at times of inundation.
20:54And those who turn out at 3 o'clock in the morning to look for an Alzheimer's person who's missing on a golf course.
21:02Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you in all humility that I accept this on behalf of all those 250 volunteers that are now doing the job that I helped create.
21:15The winners of this year's Inspiration in Education Award, he was born with special additional needs, but has never let this hold him back from helping others.
21:28He had four years speech therapy as a youngster, as was born without cheap muscles and attended the Children's Opportunity Centre Nursery.
21:36He joined Lindy Sea Cadets at the age of nine and a half and now is a volunteer Lindy Sea Cadet Leader.
21:45He was, at the time, the youngest volunteer and lifeboat recruit at Beachley Seven Area Rescue, so another SARA.
21:53A couple of years ago, he suggested to the long-serving staff at SARA that instead of just saving lives,
21:59can I please go into schools and teach prevention of drowning and what to do if local people get into difficulty, as prevention is better than cure.
22:09In the last two years, he has educated over 2,000 students by going into schools in the Forest of Dean and neighbouring Welsh schools also,
22:18giving water safety presentations mainly on his home.
22:22He does all this free of charge, out of his own pocket, on his days off from his full-time job,
22:28whilst also being a young carer to both of his parents.
22:32Can I also add that this young man had more nominations than anybody else across the board.
22:38Could I call Mr Phelps across to make the presentation, please?
22:58And the winner of the Inspiration and Education Award for this year is...
23:02Tyno Carpenter.
23:33Thank you very much to all of those who have nominated me. It does mean a great deal, but also too many people drown each year. The past month alone, we've been called out to Letch Lane upon Thames, Bath, Bradford upon Avon for unfortunate drownings, people who haven't had the water safety message, haven't had the flow to live message.
24:03Have we had any locally within our local area, River Wye, River Monnet? No. Is that partially down to the work I've done? Possibly. I don't want to blow my own trumpet too much. But this year alone, I've taught 1,219 young people and also adults as well.
24:24So yes, thank you very much.
24:27Thank you very much.
24:29I'd now like to call on Debbie Hutchinson, please. Tonight, you may know that we're doing a raffle and charity auction for Great Oaks and Packed With Love with Julie Holden.
24:46So Debbie's just kind of come up and Jules to say a few words about the charity that we've, one of the charities we've nominated tonight. So my hand over to Debbie.
24:58Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much to everyone for coming tonight. It's an honour to be able to speak about Great Oaks and what it does in the community.
25:10I don't know if anyone knows really about the Great Oaks support over 1,000 people in the local community every year. They support patients, adults with life-limiting conditions, their carers and their families.
25:26And everything we do is free of charge. We get around 30% from the government and the rest of the million and a half that it costs to run the whole space each year is made up from fundraising, shops, grants, legacies and donations.
25:46So anyone that can support us in any way, we are really, really grateful for. We've brought along a few volunteers tonight and our lead hospice at home nurse and you'll hear a bit more about them later, but what we want to say is if you can support us in any way, you know, me and Jules, fundraisers, we make up a fantastic team because we're so different.
26:13As you can see, as you can see, I'm the piety worm where Jules is always the practical one, but we bounce off each other and we usually agree, don't we?
26:25So, you know, I'm going to pass over to Jules, who is actually in her capacity. She's a much better, even though I like to speak to everybody and she will tell you everything I've missed out. Thank you.
26:39Thank you very much.
26:43So I'd like to say a massive thank you to everybody because although we put on all these brilliant events and a lot of them we do have a lot of fun with and we wrote lots of people in, but we couldn't do it with you guys because you're the ones that give us the ideas.
26:58You're also the ones that also give us donations, which we couldn't do without and we're always begging.
27:04So do follow us on social media because we need to get more as well. So please do. We've got loads more events coming up as well. We've got the Christmas Grotto, which is going to be new for us.
27:14And we know that Nick Penny has a fantastic green outfit, so we're signing you up to be an owl.
27:20But again, what got to me was I was privileged enough to go up to Five Acres High School. I apologise, is that not the name anymore?
27:32Lakers. And Five Acres. And I was joking. And then I was talking to some students up there.
27:41They'd done fantastic things for local charities and they were giving cheques. And I spoke to these three people, two lads and a young lady, and they raised money for Great Oaks.
27:52And I said to them, why did you choose Great Oaks? And the young lady said, because you helped my mum. And to me, that meant more than anything.
28:01And without the staff of Great Oaks, who do a fantastic job, and I'm sure lots of you have been touched in some way by Great Oaks,
28:08we wouldn't be able to do the events that we do, because they're the ones, what the angels in green are, they call them, or green angels they are.
28:17And again, our volunteers, who are going to talk to you as well, and share their stories with you.
28:22But I'd like to say thank you very much for supporting us. We appreciate it.
28:25So we would like to invite Stacey Keir, our lead hospice at home nurse. We'd like to invite Rich and Julie.
28:43Rich is one of our wellbeing volunteers. And Julie, we've dragged on board as a fundraising volunteer,
28:49because she comes to all our events, and gets everyone anyway.
29:07Hello everyone. I'm just going to tell you a little bit about what we do at Great Oaks Hospice at Home.
29:13So the Great Oaks Hospice at Home team are a small but exceptional team providing person-centred, end-of-life care in homes across the Forest of Dean.
29:25This rural community has a significant number of older adults. Many live alone.
29:31Over the last two years, the service has evolved to enable more than twice as many people to end their life in the place of their choosing,
29:41with the specialist palliative care that they need.
29:45End-of-life at home offers comfort and dignity to those who want this.
29:50The nearest hospice to us is 30 miles away from our community,
29:55and many older adults fear being away from their place that they've known their whole lives.
30:01The service that we provide goes far above managing end-of-life pain.
30:06Each patient is allocated a specialist team who not only manages symptoms,
30:11but offers holistic care, complementary therapies, and kindness.
30:17Patients' benefits from the continuity of care and the safety and comfort of coming to know the people who look after them
30:25in their greatest time of need.
30:27Thank you very much.
30:31I think the way that Hugh is in our well-being group is a volunteer.
30:36George is a volunteer.
30:37That's not Drake.
30:40Hello there.
30:42I'm a volunteer, obviously.
30:45Last year I lost four toes and half my foot.
30:48I wasn't in a very good place.
30:51So when I got medically discharged from work, I didn't know what to do.
30:56So me and the wife had a chat one day and we said about trying Great Oaks.
31:01Great Oaks.
31:03Good.
31:03Good fun.
31:04We go there.
31:04We go have a laugh.
31:05That's what I like doing.
31:06I like making people laugh.
31:08To make someone laugh every day, I've done my job.
31:11And we go there and we do have a laugh.
31:13On Wednesday we have table tennis.
31:16Darts.
31:16I'm not very good at darts.
31:18Stuart, I don't know whatever his name is.
31:20What's his name?
31:20Darts.
31:21He's a gentleman.
31:22Hi, whatever.
31:24No, Nick Lickler.
31:25Nick Lickler.
31:25Hi, yeah.
31:26He's all right.
31:27He's safe.
31:28But yeah, so I enjoyed it.
31:29I enjoyed making people laugh.
31:30And if you've got to sit and have a chat, I think it's all great.
31:34But a good thing that the wife said to me the other day, when I come home, she said,
31:40you're actually smiling.
31:41And she said, you've not smiled like that from coming back from doing something for years.
31:47So I thank Great Oaks for that as well.
31:50Because it's mending me as well as hopefully helping other people.
31:53There we go.
31:59And last week, Julie, who is fundraising volunteer.
32:07I can honestly say if it wasn't for the support Great Oaks had given me, I wouldn't be where I am today.
32:14They have been amazing and I can't actually put in words what they mean to me.
32:21Two years ago, at the age of 55, I suddenly and unexpectedly became a widow.
32:26Within an hour, my life changed.
32:28I was happily married.
32:29An hour later, I was a widow.
32:31My future had been ripped away from me.
32:37A future I had a lot of plans for.
32:39And I became ill, physically and mentally.
32:43And I did not know where to go.
32:45Where do you go for help and support?
32:46And it wasn't until I was actually being taken into hospital that the ambulance crew said to me, why don't you try Great Oaks?
32:54And I said, Great Oaks, I've heard about them, I know about them, but they never looked after my husband.
33:01He wasn't ill.
33:02So why would they want to look after me?
33:05They said, give it a try.
33:06And I can honestly say, from the very first phone call I made, I knew that they would help and provide me the support and the tools that I need to find a new life.
33:17I've spent so many hours with them crying my eyes out, and each and every time a member of staff has been there hugging me, comforting me, and some who have even cried with me.
33:33I know that each and every time that I take a step with my new life, Great Oaks are right behind me, supporting me.
33:46I know I've got a long way to go, but I know that I will have good and bad days, but Great Oaks will be there to help me with those steps.
33:54The heart of my new life is to make sure that anybody that is in the same situation as me has the help and support they need.
34:05So my new life involves a lot of fundraising, because I couldn't be in a place like I am without the support of Great Oaks getting me.
34:14So that's why I do the fundraising, so that anybody else who finds himself in this position will have the help and support they need.
34:24Thank you. Thanks to the Great Oaks team. I've lost the words.
34:40This family purchased the property 18 months ago and worked tirelessly, largely by the person himself, to restore and renovate the space into a much-needed community asset.
34:53His motivation came directly from conversations with customers at his first shop, Orchard Stores, who told him how difficult it was to access the post office due to its location.
35:06Many elderly residents were struggling.
35:10He responded not just with words, but with action, investing his time, energy and personal finances to bring the post office back to the town centre.
35:19And despite setbacks due to flooding during the renovation, which damaged materials and delayed opening, they opened their doors on July 2nd, offering a new hub for the community.
35:32This person and his family are known for their community-minded approach, personally delivering supplies to shielding residents during the pandemic.
35:41And as he said himself, this isn't about making millions, it's about giving something back.
35:46That ethos deserves recognition and celebration.
35:50Our Business Hero Award winner is Zach, Sheena and Elizabeth from the New Living Post Office and A.P.V.M.S. Hall.
36:01A few words from the winning partnership.
36:25Here we go.
36:26Thank you guys, it's a very good opportunity to give you thanks, all of you.
36:32And then we've been here with the community last nine years, I think.
36:37And so, community help us to bring the business up.
36:43And so we have a right to, you know, help you as well.
36:46So many people come at us, you know, about the post office.
36:49We need to get into the town centre.
36:50So we try to get that into the town.
36:54So thank you, everybody.
36:57Thank you so much.
36:58For the Group Hero Awards.
37:04And this is sponsored by Chepstow Hearing Clinic.
37:09So if I could ask Asa Richards from Chepstow Hearing Clinic to come up to present the award.
37:14I've got nothing to say, really, because I'll only start crying again.
37:27So I'll just give it to Asa to let you know who the group winners are.
37:31The Great Oaks Hospice.
37:44Thank you so, so much.
37:56We're obviously all very, very proud of what we do within the organisation.
38:00We all have different roles, and we love being out there for the community, and we do make
38:07a difference.
38:09And, yeah, just thank you.
38:10We're just thrilled.
38:12That's it.
38:12I just want to say thank you.
38:15Thank you very much, everyone.
38:20Cheers.
38:20Cheers.
38:25Thank you very much.
38:26I'm just going to call up another charity to speak to us about the charity, and it's called
38:34Packed With Love.
38:36So if I can call Julie Holden up so she can tell you all about the other charity that we
38:41will be donating to tonight.
38:43Thank you very much.
38:44Thank you, Julie.
38:48Thank you very much.
38:49Thank you very much.
38:50Thank you very much.
38:51Thank you very much.
38:52Thank you very much.
38:53Thank you very much.
38:54Thank you very much.
38:55Hello everyone.
38:56I've got to be honest.
38:57I hate speaking in public so bear with me.
38:58I run Packed With Love since 2019.
39:00Each year we pack 118 backpacks for children in emergency accommodation.
39:15At Christmas time we pack treat bags, toiletry bags and get gift cards and hand out to the
39:21homeless in the Rhinoi in Gloucestershire.
39:25We are only a team of six of us.
39:28We found last year it was extremely hard fundraising.
39:33We do a lot of pop-up shops and clothes, books, jigsaws, things like that.
39:37So we have taken a little bit of a break this year to give my team a bit of a rest.
39:43We sat down, we've had a chat and we think going forward next year we're changing things a little bit.
39:50We won't be doing the backpacks for children in emergency accommodation.
39:55But we are going to be doing the back to school backpacks.
39:59Because we found there's a lot of people in the forest that are struggling with not only school uniforms
40:05but putting a backpack together for the children to return to school.
40:09And we wasn't actually going to announce this until January because it won't start until next year.
40:16But thanks to these guys we have to announce it tonight.
40:21So everybody else asks us what can they do to help us.
40:26Mainly it's turn up to our pop-up shops.
40:30If you follow us on Facebook, please, please just advertise our events.
40:36That's all we ask for.
40:38We have a big book fair coming up in August.
40:40We've got 20 authors coming.
40:42Please, if you see it on Facebook, share it.
40:46That means the world to us.
40:48That's all we can ask for.
40:50None of my team's here tonight.
40:54But I can't thank my team enough.
40:56As I said, there is only six of us.
40:58And they work extremely hard to do what we do.
41:01But I would like to say a thank you to my other half.
41:04We call him the transport manager.
41:07We don't cry.
41:15So with Am, I couldn't do what I did.
41:17He takes me absolutely everywhere.
41:19And today it is his birthday, and he's given up his birthday mail.
41:30So I think that's all I can say.
41:33If you do work for a local school, you know someone who works for a local school, please put them in our direction because we do need to sit down with schools and ask what they need in these backpacks.
41:46One thing we are definitely putting in every backpack is a reading book because we're quite surprised that how many children in the Forest of Dean, they don't have their own reading book.
41:56So that is one thing that we will definitely be putting in all our bags. So thank you. I'm going because I really hope I'm going.
42:07Our next award is Sporting Hero. The winner of our Sporting Heroes award, placed for England's Deaf football team, was the first ever Deaf women's goalkeeper to score not just one goal, but three in the World Futsal Cup, recently held in Italy.
42:26In addition to her England duties, our winner plays in gold for the Great Britain's Deaf women's football team.
42:33Having played football from a very young age at a chessboard team, she played for both Rostown ladies and Elwood ladies.
42:41Now looking ahead to the Deaf Olympics in Tokyo in November, where she will once again be playing for the Deaf women's Great Britain football team.
42:50Our Sporting Hero will be presented by ProStars. Is there any representative from ProStars of Forest Sports Education here this evening?
42:57I know they had other events going on and they were trying to get here. I'll call on my colleague Heather Benton to make a presentation.
43:10The award is Natasha Hamm.
43:16APPLAUSE
43:18APPLAUSE
43:24APPLAUSE
43:28APPLAUSE
43:30Hi everyone, I just want to say thank you for your support and I've been
43:58expecting that I'm going to have to speak to my other side, so I just want to thank you, thank you again.
44:04The recipient of this year's People's Choice Award received numerous nominations for a tireless
44:09voluntary contribution to events in and around Lindley. They were a very hands-on participant
44:16alongside other volunteers and members of the public during last year's flooding in Lindley
44:20Town Centre and has been described as a rock in a crisis with nothing being too much trouble.
44:26Claire, if you'd like to open the envelope. It's like the Oscars. It's not La La Land, don't worry.
44:34And the winner is, the winner is Celia Evans.
44:38Uh, thanks. Um, yeah, there's a reason that I volunteer and that is because the people that I know in Lindley, who are mainly on the council, do a cracking job, including our mayor, who is a voluntary, and anything that I can do to help me, is that I can do to help me.
44:44I will. Um, and that's what Lindley as a community shows as well. So, thank you.
44:52The winner of this year's Special Awards needs a little introduction.
45:00They are driving force behind a group of friends in the Forest of Dean who raise funds through local feints, car boot sales,
45:07pop-up, and the people that I know in Lindley, who are mainly on the council, do a cracking job, including our mayor, who is a voluntary, and anything that I can do to help, I will.
45:13The winner of this year's Special Awards needs little introduction. They are driving force behind a group of friends in the Forest of Dean who raise funds through local feints, car boot sales, pop-up shops, chocolate bingo, and book fares.
45:33Their aim is to provide backup packs for children who have been placed into emergency care, and also a Christmas toy campaign for those less fortunate.
45:41Our winner has already spoken this evening about her passion for a charity, and what they do.
45:51So, the winner is Jumie Holden.
45:53Jumie Holden.
45:54Jumie Holden.
45:55Jumie Holden.
45:59CONGRATIFICATION.
46:01CONGRATIFICATION.
46:02They do good.
46:03But, said, do you learn everything?
46:04Yes.
46:05I'm still shaking from the first time.
46:08Just, thank you.
46:10I could do what I did for their everybody's support.
46:12Just, thanks for that.
46:13from the first time um thank you just thank you i couldn't do what i do with everybody's support
46:22um just thanks
46:32is the lifetime achievement award and this is sponsored by
46:36lidney town council from the mayor's fund so can i ask tasha to come up please
46:42and say a few words
46:50so i got the last award so i can do thank yous they're not expected
46:54i am actually going to thank the review and their team and everyone for putting these awards on
46:59tonight so i haven't told them i was doing this sorry but welcome to heather carol liz and everyone
47:07on the team so can we have a round of applause i would also just like to thank everybody for
47:22putting in the nomination there were so many people that were nominated so i'm really proud today to be
47:28able to present the lifetime achievement award this is come from my mayor's fund at the town council
47:35this person has been helping young people engage with exercise build confidence and create a sense
47:41of purpose through sport and as the only club of this kind in the forest of deep it plays a unique
47:49role in offering regular exercise structure and belonging to its members from beginners to professional
47:57talent talent and wired across the country this person has been at the heart of their club for 35
48:04years this club is committed to being accessible to all keeping sessions affordable inclusive and making
48:12sure everybody no matter what their background or circumstances feels welcome the club has given
48:19memories to children they will never forget the impact the club has on individuals of course the forest of
48:27dean is immeasurable and is an asset to the community it cannot afford to lose with almost one in four
48:37children in the forest of dean their classes of peace and deprivation a key underlying factor is vital
48:44that communities have access to affordable high quality facilities like this clubs like this play a
48:51vital role in improving public health and ensuring no person is left behind and no child is left behind
48:59the winner of this year's award is
49:01the winner of this year's award is mr brian higgs
49:15well thank you very much i didn't really know what to say but it's well learned i think
49:36the 35 years i've been doing it running the boxing club i've been raising them to keep us going um over
49:44the years i've been through a lot i lost my wi-fi years ago with cancer and i took care to put them
49:50going i didn't stay there all the time um thank you for us um i can't think what's it been um
50:00hospice yeah so my wife went there as well um
50:07just thank you so much and i think it is well deserved for the errors i put in people don't see it
50:13um upon shows and put on like 14 or 15 shows actually here at forest hills to raise money for
50:19us to keep us going um unfortunately i had complaints for officials to say that it was too too packed
50:26because we had too many uh come to the show so i've had to find another venue um and it went well last
50:33year and we're hoping to put to another uh fundraiser uh this next year we've never had any funding off
50:39anyone i've done all the fundraising basically i'm not growing my own trumpet i've done it myself i've
50:45gone out got sponsors uh sponsors for the ring like the ring cost 500 pound then you've got the trophies
50:52400 pound um a doctor paying for the officials you know if if i never done it we wouldn't be there
51:01and i've just kept kept it going through the years um we've had been through direct buildings we went
51:09through the old six we have the old six form block we had at the feathers hotel we had the old freemasons
51:16of the feathers hotel we then we had the function room then we had the old post office then we had
51:21the old six form block so and then we have the swan in litany at the the room down there and i used to
51:29pay for it in my own pocket we used to run with the generator um and lucky enough we've got uh
51:38reach it's all now um hopefully i'm not sure and he's listening hopefully um we can keep it going
51:45we've got a lease on it to 2029 and i just i just want to keep the club going for the kids because i think
51:52with the kids we give them we build them build them as characters they come up the stairs and
52:01we've had kids come up the stairs and they've gone back down because they've been too scared
52:05but once we get them up there we get them build their confidence and i think that's what it's
52:10about building kids confidence they might go on to box they might never box you know i've traveled the
52:16country um my son's there uh he's boxed in the junior olympics the boxing four nations um he wasn't
52:26born when i started got involved in boxing but obviously got into boxing and he did well he was
52:31professional um yeah so i'm pleased with what i'm done and i really really appreciate this and i've
52:37also won another award for bbc cluster radio so it all seems to come up once okay thank you very much
52:50firstly i think it's really important to have a massive round of applause for all of this year's
52:56nominees and winners there were hundreds to choose from i i promise you and it's been really tough to
53:04go through every single story and read every single nominee um but you know they've they've done
53:11themselves proud and i think the winners who we've chosen tonight have done themselves proud as well
53:17so can we give a round of applause please to all the nominees
53:24secondly a little bit closer to home um i'd be grateful if you'd join me in thanking carol and heather
53:31um um i've only been with tim for two months um but i've been lucky enough to meet these two
53:40as i know as cagney and lacy they they they love each other dearly i'm sure um but our commercial
53:47team who've supported this liz and her editorial team as well we've been live blogging throughout the
53:54night honestly guys your support has been fantastic and without all that dedication and hard work
54:03these awards just wouldn't happen so please thank you to heather carol liz her team please
54:13it's also really important to thank all the local mayors from the supporting boroughs
54:17uh matt bishop our our mp uh the councillors the district councils for their attendance and their
54:24support for these unique events um and our hosts as well here at forest hills golf club i think you've
54:31got to agree they've been absolutely fantastic tonight so thank you to all the staff who have looked
54:37out to us this evening seriously well done and finally all of our award category sponsors um and
54:47honestly your amazing support it's blown my mind over the last couple of weeks when i've heard
54:52heather and cowell coming back to the office talking about raffle prizes and sponsorship money
54:57these things only happen because of you trust me so thank you so much for everyone who's
55:04supported us donated prizes to help us raise money for our nominated charities because without your
55:11support these nights would not be possible so a massive thank you to all of you all of you
55:18from all of us at tyndall news honestly thank you
55:27there's a lot of other things that you've seen tonight bar the venue bar us the band thank you to the band
55:35and as you know this is our third year bringing you the forest review local hero community awards so
55:45make sure you pick up a copy of next week's paper um it will include a 16 page uh post-awards supplement
55:53uh exclusive supplement we've never done it that size before um plenty of pictures plenty of
55:59of look back at all the winners all the nominees so we really hope that you you enjoy looking at
56:06that um but more importantly i think it's important to say that we're looking forward to seeing you
56:12again in 2026 um it's been a big journey for us to go into a third year i think looking at the
56:21support to go into a fourth year is absolutely phenomenal so thank you to all of you have a
56:26safe journey home enjoy your evening enjoy your weekend and good night from all of us thank you
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