Tamworth Blog

Tamworth Police Station - Photo: Paulette Francessca Sedgwick

A Student Police Officer based in Tamworth has been nominated for the “Student Police Officer of the Year” awards.

PC Emma Rainsford, based at Tamworth police station, attended more than 200 incidents in 2008, having passed her initial driving course. She has also completed 86 crime complaints in the same period.

PC Rainsford has proved her professionalism in the way she has dealt with a number of incidents, according to her force, including a sudden death; the apprehension of a prolific offender; and a case in which a woman had been harassed by her husband.

Before she joined Staffordshire Police as a sworn officer, PC Rainsford volunteered as a Special constable for two years.

Flax Hill Primary School Receiving their Award

Schools in Tamworth have been recognised for being Dyslexia friendly after receiving a Level 1 Renewed Dyslexia Friendly Status at a special ceremony in Stafford earlier this week.

A host of schools in the Tamworth area were awarded the Level 1 Renewed Dyslexia Friendly Status, which recognises the work the schools do to assist those with Dyslexia.  The Tamworth schools awarded during the cermony in Stafford were:

• Flax Hill Community Junior School
• Florendine Primary School
• Greenacres Primary School
• Glascote Heath Primary School
• Heathfields Infants School
• Wilnecote High School
• Wilnecote Junior School
• Dosthill Primary School
• Woodlands Primary School

All the schools went through a rigorous process which involved an audit of current practice, self assessment, staff training and development of an action plan to improve practice.

County Councillor Veronica Downes, Cabinet Member for Schools said:

“This is an excellent achievement and I would like to congratulate everyone involved and thank them all for their hard work towards achieving this award. This is another step forward to develop fully inclusive links for pupils with dyslexia within Staffordshire’s schools.”

Colin Bryan, Drayton Manor's MD (right), receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award from Tourism West Midlands chairman Brian Summers

2009 has been an unbelievable year for Drayton Manor Theme Park and last week it was rewarded yet again for it’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ in honour of it’s contribution to the areas Tourism trade.

This latest award goes alongside other awards won this year including the Best UK attraction for children and Apocalypse being named the UK’s scariest ride by Channel 5’s Gadget Show.

Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor was at the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards hosted at the International Convention Centre on Thursday October 30 to receive the prestigious accolade.

Although the park won the Outstanding Contribution award, the popular theme park which plays host to Thomas Land also got awarded three Silver awards in Large Visitor Attraction, Best Tourism Experience categories and Best Day out (which was voted for by the public). They also were Highly Commended in the Business Tourism (Best Exhibition Venue) category.

Mr Bryan said:

“I am truly overjoyed and thrilled to have received this recognition from the Heart of England. This award has added significance as this weekend, (31st Oct & 1st Nov), the park will officially launch the 60th Anniversary Celebrations with two nights of spectacular firework and laser displays.

“I would first and foremost like to pay credit to the founders of Drayton Manor Theme Park, my parents, George and Vera Bryan. They bought the site in 1949 and began the back-breaking work to create Drayton Manor. It took them six months but their hard work paid off when the park first opened to the public in 1950.

“I would also like to thank everyone who has worked at the park in the past 60 years. The goal of Drayton Manor Theme Park has always been to provide families with first class rides and attractions for the best possible day out.”

Colin Bryan, managing director of Drayton Manor Theme Park, being presented with the award by, actress Tina Hobley (left), and Jilly Greed (right), from Holiday on Ice, which sponsored the Best UK Attraction for Children category

Drayton Manor Park was awarded “Best UK Attraction for Children” at the Group Leisure Rewards, on Wednesday (Sept 23) night.

The award which was presented to Colin Bryan (the Managing Director at Drayton Manor Park) at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham  is even sweeter with the winner being voted for by the readers of groupleisure.com and Group Leisure magazine.  It compounds the success and popularity of the Theme Park with those who organise days out for groups of youngsters.

As a youngster we took Drayton Manor to heart, being local it was down the road and easily accessible to us as youngsters.  As a kid the day out at Drayton Manor was great, especially being a thrill seeker.  Now a days, it offers so much more including the new Thomas Land which is a draw to all ages (even my age range).

Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor speaking of the award said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that the theme park has been acknowledged as a brilliant destination for children. We are continually investing in the park in order to offer something for everyone to enjoy, whatever their age.

“As this award has been voted for by Group Leisure magazine’s readers, it shows that we are successfully providing an entertaining and value for money day out.”

Two Tamworth based health workers last week clinched individual awards in the South Staffordshire Patients’ Choice – Quality and Excellence awards.

Peripatetic clinical psychologist Rachel Golding who was unable to attend the award ceremony, was awarded the Individual Excellence award.  Rachel works with young autistic children and adults as a consultant based at Tamworth’s Hockley Centre, but also covering Uttoxeter, Burntwood, Lichfield and Burton on Trent.  Rachel who has been working in the area for over 20 years has touched the lives of many families working in the diagnostic assessment unit of the Communication and Social Development Assessment/Advisory Service (CASDAS).

The small team assess and diagnoses autism in youngsters aged between five and 18-years-old, working with both the individual and the families affected.

Katy O’Sulivan, mother of an autistic patient who Rachel helped nominated her for the award. She said:

“She has given us, and my son, a life. I genuinely had a child who was in his bedroom from morning til night and was very scared of the world and scared to go outside – and she has absolutely changed that for us.

“The role was meant to be a part-time one but she’s come round to our home at 7pm to drop off a specific book she wants us to read or thinks will help.

She has given us an understanding of our son.

“We have so much to thank you for and you have completely changed our lives. You’re an absolutely wonderful person and you really deserve this.”

Imad Soryal receiving his award

Another Tamworth healthworker though was also awarded at last Wednesday’s (September 9) ceremony.

Dr Imad Soryal who practices at the towns Sir Robert Peel Hospital was presented the Clinical Excellence award and was described as “always putting his patients first” and “going above and beyond” his expected duties.

Speaking of this award Dr Soryal said:

“I’m not used to being honoured in this way for what I do for a living. I owe everything to the patients. I am a product of Staffordshire: I trained here and am now a consultant here and I’m very fortunate.

“What’s important for me is working on a model that is centred around the patient, not the clinician.

“My patients are my key priority and it is a privilege to know that vulnerable people put their trust and faith in me and the team to look after them whilst they are in hospital.”

The Patients’ Choice – Quality and Excellence Awards which was launched by the South Staffordshire PCT launched in April, received nearly 100 nominations from patients and the public in South Staffordshire. The event was staged at Staffordshire County Showground and was presented by television presenter Michael Collie.

Janine McKinght who has been nominated for award

A popular Tamworth Health Visitor has been short listed for the inaugural “Individual Excellence Award”.  Janine McKnight, who has been a health visitor for the South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust for 9 years has also pioneered a premature baby community support scheme.

Janine said of her nomination:

“I’m really delighted to have been put forward for this award. It was a complete shock.

“I’ve worked in the NHS for the last 32 years and absolutely love my job, working with clients on a one-to-one basis and helping them and their families is something that I really enjoy.

“No two days are the same in health visiting, my day can vary from clinical duties right through to project development. Having the ability and creativity to make a difference to people’s lives brings out the best in me as a clinician.”

The Patients Choice – Quality and Excellence awards were launched by the Trust in April this year.  Since then they have received over 100 nominations from patients and the public.  The nominations are for those who have been identified as providing a high quality of care and provide excellent service.  The awards are a way of recognising this.  Janine has got through to the final shortlist and the award will be presented to the winner at the Awards ceremony on September 9 at the Staffordshire County Showground.

Sir Robert Peel Hospital - Pic: Angella Streluk

Tamworth’s Sir Robert Peel Hospital has scored well in a recent visit by the Patient Environment Action Teams (PEAT).

The visit which looked at the cleanliness and environment issues that effect the patients visit to hospitals is carried out by a PEAT team which is made up of NHS staff, including nurses and domestic managers, executive and non-executive directors and their estate managers as well as patient representatives.

The Sir Robert Peel was awarded Good for the environment and food and was awarded Excellent for the Privacy and Dignity afforded to patients of the hospital.

Stuart Poynor, PCT Chief Executive, has high praise for the staff and said:

“PCT Provider Services is delighted to have been assessed as having a good standard of cleanliness and environment and providing a good range of food options. We are also delighted with the excellent rating for privacy and dignity for Sir Robert Peel Hospital.”

The areas investigated included the catering on offer to patients and the general environment, but the Sir Robert Peel Hospital was commended for the the high level of privacy and dignity provided, which includes sleeping rooms and the toilet/bathroom facilities within the hospital.

The deadline is looming for residents across South Staffordshire to vote for staff, carers and fellow members of the public for a care and excellence award.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust said:

“We launched the patients choice quality and excellence award last month to high quality services, positive patient experiences, organisational efficiency and excellence in individual or team achievements.”

The last chance people can have there say is friday june 19th when they can either vote on line or in writing for the person or people they think should win.

For more information visit www.southstaffordshirepct.nhs.uk

Sue Bailey accepting the awards for Drayton Manor Park

Drayton Manor Park has been awarded UK attraction Of The Year 2009 at the Coach Tourism awards ceremony, held at Coventrys Ricoh arena earlier this week.

The award was especially pleasing for Drayton Manor as this years saw a huge number of entries and the winner is picked by the readers of Coach Monthly magazine.

When announcing the award, they said;

“A huge investment back into the site, particularly in Thomas Land™, backed up by an impressive marketing campaign has established Drayton Manor as one of THE top UK attractions, and the readers of Coach Monthly obviously agree.”

Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor Park said;

“It is a great honour to win this award, especially as it voted for by the readers of Coach Monthly. We have made huge investments into the park and we are delighted that has been recognised and appreciated by the public.”

CCTV Award

The team that keep the CCTV system throughout Tamworth operating the CCTV system which consists 77 cameras in total, 45 of those in the town centre, 25 monitors in the control room and 2 monitors at Tamworth Police Station, have been award Operator team of the year by the CCTV User Group.

Last year the team monitored over 2,400 incidents around the town, around the clock and have been recognised by the CCTV user group.  The award was presented in recognition of the work the team have done over the past years.

Larry Philips, CCTV and Parking Manager said of the teams award;

“Our team is one of the best in the country, and it is wonderful to have the recognition of the CCTV User Group. In the last 5 years, our CCTV team have monitored over 9000 incidents and assisted in over 3500 arrests. The CCTV system is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 day a year. We work closely with the Police, Townsafe and the Community Safety partnership. We also work with the Police to view and process 3rd party CCTV footage, and have done so for other police forces due to the speed of our operators.”

For many the CCTV provides the watching eye that provides a feeling of safety around Tamworth and the cameras have been used to monitor civil disorders to robberies.  The system which has cost the Borough Council £792,946 is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.

Andrew Barratt, Deputy Director Operational Services added

“This award is recognition of not only the skill of all of our operators, but also for the hard work and dedication given by every member of the team to perform the job they do at the best of their abilities. It also reflects the fact that the team is well managed and motivated to enable them all to achieve such a high standard”