Blog post -
It’s “all aboard” for Community Heroes as Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines rewards winners
Twenty Newcastle champions were rewarded with the trip of a lifetime after scooping a prize in a competition to celebrate their dedication to their local community.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines partnered with Chronicle Live to run a Community Heroes competition where readers could nominate individuals making a difference to win a cruise departing from the city.
Among winners was Dianne Turner, who set up the group A New Chapter North East which aims to help those who are widowed and Pam Fender of the Wallsend Girls' Brigade, who won a summertime cruise to Lapland and Scandinavia.
RNLI volunteer Andrew Stephenson, who has saved lives of people and animals at sea, was also among the winners along with Bill Wilson, who was nominated three times for his work with Dementia Matters and was his wife Jo Wilson's carer before her death in January this year. He has campaigned for several years to bring change to the social care system.
Also winning a cruise were Lynn Watson, who received an OBE for services to special needs and was nominated by her daughter for her work with disadvantaged children and their families and Jordan Trotter who set up a weekly men's group for mental health support.
Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“There is something truly special about reading the stories of some of these incredible individuals who go above and beyond to help others more vulnerable than themselves.
“We are thrilled to have been able to celebrate the region’s unsung heroes by rewarding them with a treat that they really deserve for their efforts.
“As many have pointed out, they do not do this work for the recognition. But they really do deserve to be singled out and praised for making the world a better place for others. We are thrilled to have played a part in that.”
The 20 winners are:
Sal Bennett
Bill Corcoran
Caroline Murray
Pamela Barnet
Irene Reid
Kevin Brown
Dianne Turner
Marisa May
Bill Wilson
Tom Cuthbertson
Stephen Fenn
Kim Hunter
Lynn Puga
Lee Boatman
Karin Lovatt
Andrew Stephenson
Bill Westall
Lynn Watson
Michael English
Jordan Trotter
For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
