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Women of the Emergency Services
deserving winners of achievement award
IN a break from tradition and after a most
tumultuous year, a group of women from the UK's Police, Fire and Ambulance
Services have been jointly rewarded today at a gala award ceremony in
Birmingham, in gratitude and recognition of their leadership and dedication in
the face of the terrorist atrocities, in Manchester and London and the terrible
tragedy, at Grenfell Tower.
Receiving the Woman of Achievement Award 2017 on behalf of the women of the
Emergency Services were Commissioner Dany Cotton of the London Fire Service,
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi of the Metropolitan Police Service, PC
Alice Jacobs, who was 1 of the 1st on the scene during the recent London
terror attacks, Heather Lawrence OBE of the London Ambulance Service and Tracy
Porter, Head of Resilience and Special Operations of the London Ambulance
Service.
The Award was presented to the women by former winner Baroness Helen Newlove of
Warrington, Victims Commissioner for England and Wales. The women take over from
the current holder, Liverpool's Margaret Aspinall, who received the award in
recognition of her tireless campaigning for justice for the families and friends
of the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough.
Former winners of the Woman of Courage or Achievement Award include Martine
Wright, who overcame the horrific loss of both of her legs in the 7/7 terrorist
bombings of 2005 to rebuild her life and compete at the London 2012 Paralympics,
and Katie Piper, whose personal story My Beautiful Face inspired millions.
Also celebrated at the awards was Fleur Sexton, co-founder of PET-Xi Training,
which has helped more than 100,000 youngsters from across the UK, who received
the Businesswoman of the Year award from Nicola Elliott, founder of home
fragrance brand, Neom Organics.
The 35th annual Women of the Year luncheon and awards ceremony, hosted by BBC
Midlands Today's Arti Halai and Nick Owen, took place at the Hilton Birmingham
Metropole Hotel, NEC, on 6 October 2017. Around 500 guests were treated to a 3 course luncheon before the presentation of the awards. Proceeds from the
event will be divided between Revitalise and Tomorrow's People.
Revitalise CEO Chris Simmonds, who attended the event, commented:- "I
can't think of a more deserving group of people for the Woman of Achievement
Award the women of our Emergency Services, as exemplified by those here today.
In recent months the women of our Police, Fire and Ambulance Services have
displayed incredible courage and fortitude in the face of quite terrifying
circumstances. By their actions, these women have proved themselves to be worthy
custodians of the grand traditions of the Emergency Services. As a charity
supporting disabled people and carers, Revitalise operates in a very different
sphere of activity, but we understand that it takes time to build a legacy,
something these women have achieved through many years of tenacity and
dedication. We applaud them for displaying these qualities in such abundance.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone here today for showing your support of
our charity. Your continued generosity will enable us to continue our vital work
supporting disabled people and carers, from here in the Midlands and all across
the UK."
Pauline Edden, Board Director of the Woman of the Year Awards, said:- "We
departed from tradition with pleasure this year in order to present this award
to a group of women, not just an individual. The women of our Emergency Services
are worthy of our recognition, this year more than ever. It is testament to
their dedication that many women have risen to the very top of their respective
Services, in domains which until recently were traditionally regarded as
exclusively male oriented. They have also proved themselves in action, by
protecting and serving us with great skill and determination, often under the
most frightening of circumstances. I would also like to give thanks to all
the wonderful supporters who continue to make our event possible."
The Women of the Year Awards honour women's outstanding individual achievement
in all professions. In addition to the Woman of Achievement Award, the
Businesswoman of the Year Award recognises outstanding achievement in the sphere
of business and provides positive role models to encourage other women to enter
the business arena.
Revitalise has been a beneficiary of the awards since the event's foundation.
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people
and carers, with 24- hour nurse led care on call and personal support, at 3
accessible centres, in Essex, Southampton and Southport. All of Revitalise's
centres offer a wide range of activities and excursions. For more information
visit:-
Revitalise.Org.UK.
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