Unsung heroes making world a better place
Published: July 6, 2007
EARLIER this month, the Evening News launched its Community Awards to recognise and reward Edinburgh and the Lothian’s unsung heroes who work tirelessly to make their local community a better place.
We have already received a number of nominations, but there are countless kind-hearted people out there who put others first that we still want to hear about and we are appealing to readers to nominate a neighbour, a youth project or a keen gardener who deserves recognition for all their hard work.
Here are just three of those ordinary people already nominated who are making an extraordinary difference to their local community.
Best carer category
They were childhood sweethearts and, when they married at just 18 nearly 40 years ago, husband John Hughes meant every word of his vow “in sickness and in health”.
For now, the 59-year-old retired Leith Docks manager from Warriston is a full-time carer for his beloved wife, Sheila, 57, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, even though John is chronically ill himself.
“I feel he deserves this award and I’m so proud of him,” admits his big sister Kathleen McFarlane, 70, from Muirhouse, who nominated him for the Best Carer category. “Although he suffers from severe ulcerative colitis he still looks after his wife.
“Sheila has had MS for about 15 years, and it’s definitely got worse throughout the years. You now have to force her hands open to hold a cup. Her fingers are right into the palms of her hand.
“He gave up his job as a manager in Leith Docks to become a full-time carer about a year ago to concentrate on looking after Linda - he admitted to me that he couldn’t leave her alone like that any longer.”
John has hired a cleaner to keep their home tidy, but everything else is done himself. He cooks, he does the shopping and he helps Sheila with all her needs.
“The thing about him is that he never complains [about being a carer] and he’s usually a torn face disaster. He never says he wishes he could be doing something else. He used to go to the football every weekend to see Celtic play in Glasgow but he can’t do that anymore. He’s had to give up a heck of a lot for her, but he’s never complained once.
“As far as I’m concerned he deserves such an award.”
And what does John think? “I was taken completely by surprise,” he says. “My wife was absolutely shocked as well.” But he makes light of his work as his wife’s carer. “It can be a bit tedious at times but you just get on with it - it’s part of your duty,” he says.
Best community worker category
A child’s early years in education are crucial, helping them prepare for teenage - and adult - life academically, socially and emotionally. Getting the best education possible comes down not just to parental support and guidance, but also the other unsung heroes - the teachers.
And John Burns is one such teacher. As headteacher of Granton Primary School for the past nine years, 60-year-old John is a popular face among pupils and parents.
“He’s been an absolute godsend to the school,” says 43-year-old housewife Susan Wilson, from Royston, who nominated John for the Best Community Worker award. “Over the last five or so years, he’s turned the school right around. Before he arrived it wasn’t a very good school.
“The perception of the school was poor, it wasn’t a school you would choose to send your kids to because of its reputation.
“Now, it’s a fantastic school. Granton isn’t my district school but I put my kids, Samantha, who’s now seven and Rachel, who’s now four, there because of him. When I came to visit the school, Mr Burns sold it to me. He was so welcoming, so friendly, so passionate about what he did, that I knew my kids would do well here.”
She continues: “He makes the children and parents feel they are working towards a better community spirit. His door is always open and he’s always in the playground chatting to the children and parents. He encourages the kids to do different things, to try new things. And he gets involved with everything.”
His enthusiasm for education has led to John enforcing the wearing of uniforms to instil pride of the school in the pupils, and to teach them to represent their school. Now all pupils proudly wear the school’s badge and are protective over their school. “His enthusiasm for this school and encouragement of the pupils is faultless and priceless,” says Susan. “But he allows no bad behaviour. Children are instantly excluded for bad behaviour and slowly brought back in, giving them time to think about what they’ve done.”
His parents’ evenings boast a high turnout rate, with mums and dads keen to find out how their kids are getting on, and how they can help them even more. He has even launched adult learning sessions within the school for the surrounding local community.
“He gives the parents the extra push to keep going,” she adds, “and anything he can do for the community, he will.”
And Susan’s children have already reaped the rewards of John’s hard work.
“I am so proud of my children’s abilities,” she says. “Their reports are excellent - my seven-year-old can already read the Evening News. Primary school sets a child up for life - and John deserves to be recognised for doing this so well.”
John will be taking early retirement at the end of this term due to illness, and Susan says he will be sadly missed. “He turns up to things at school even when he’s really ill with ME,” she says. “No matter how ill he is, he will always be at special school events. So I’ve nominated him as a thank you for all he’s done - not just for me, but for all the pupils, past and present.”
Deputy headteacher, Christine Aldrige, is delighted John has been nominated. She says: “He definitely deserves an award.
“He came into Granton nine years ago and very quickly proved himself to be a very charismatic leader and very much a people person. He very quickly got the parents on board and they have been incredibly supportive of the school because of John. He has enhanced the environment both inside and outside the school. It would be a fitting award for him as he’s retiring this year.”
Best shop category
Supermarkets may be brimming with foodstuffs from around the world, but nothing beats a local shop with friendly staff and familiar faces. And a good shopkeeper is much more than a retail manager - they are also a vital part of the community, someone who knows the customers personally and provides a memorable service.
Bill Johnstone, of W D Johnstone in East Trinity Road, is one such shopkeeper whose efforts have resulted in him being nominated for the award.
“I didn’t know I’d been nominated so I’m taken aback - but it’s a pleasant surprise,” says the 65-year-old from Trinity.
“It’s important to give a good service, to speak to the customers and to carry a great range of stuff. We now have a big organic range and we offer more than 100 wines and beers, and we do our own pre-packed yoghurt raisins and nuts etc. Plus we offer seven kinds of rice.
“And in the summer we offer organic fruit and vegetables. It’s all been well received and my turnover has gone up 45 per cent in two years - so I’m doing something right.”
Bill sums up his large shop as “a convenience store . . . and a little bit more”, and has been a local shopkeeper since he was 21, working in his dad’s convenience store in Goldenacre and another family shop on Granton Road, before buying his own shop 30 years ago.
And as a testament to his dedication to giving the best possible service, Bill and his staff now do the shopping for elderly customers and offer a free delivery service.
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