All of the 21st century Daily Echo hero nominations – Daily Echo

WE HAVE been on the hunt for our 21st century heroes tackling the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Daily Echo launched its appeal to honour the determination of our key workers across Southampton and Hampshire.

Today, we recognise war heroes during this years 75 anniversary of VE Day and ongoing efforts by frontline healthcare staff.

We asked for nominations from our readers to highlight just a few of the hundreds of incredible workers helping others daily.

Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, marks the unconditional surrender by Nazi Germany of its armed forces against the Allied Forces, which marked the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.

Here are the nominations:

Carley Fay Paige

Nursing associate Carley Fay Paige was nominated by her auntie Julie Bevis and Caroline Bevis.

Carley has been working for University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust for six years and started as a health care assistant. She became a trainee nurse a month ago after passing her exams and achieving a nursing associate degree.

The 35-year-old from Shirley claims that the hospital that she now works for saved her life in 2007 after they took most of a tumour out of her brain called acoustic neuroma, which can cause hearing loss and imbalance.

Carley has three yearly MRI scans to make sure there is no further growth and has so far not seen any changes.

She is currently working on the Covid-19 ward at Southampton Hospital.

Carley's auntie Julie said: When Carlie was recovering from a brain tumour, she decided that she wanted to give something back to the NHS because they gave her life back.

She's finding it very difficult but without a second thought, she gets on with caring for people in the job she absolutely loves and we so admire her for what she has been through. She is my hero.

Caroline said: "Carlie Page was one of the nurses who cared for my husband on C5 before he sadly passed away due to Covid-19.

"Carlie was an amazing tower of strength to both myself and our children whilst caring for my husband, she truly deserves this."

Ann Waller

Retired carer and seamstress Ann Waller was nominated by her son James Waller.

Ann, 70, from Southampton, has made over 500 PPE masks, hats and wash bags by collecting fabric and sewing them for care homes and staff at Southampton General Hospital.

The mother-of-four grew up attending Shirley Warren Secondary School and later became a carer.

One of three sets of twins, Ann usually participates in charity work across the city, including The Scrap Store in Southampton, and has made a mask for a deaf person so they can still lip read while on the front line.

She has also made craft items and raised thousands of pounds for Butterfly Books, a charity that donates books to parents following baby loss, after two of her grandchildren were stillborn.

Ann's son James said: "My mum, who is disabled herself, has been amazing during these hard times and is unable to do her usual charity work.

"So she has been collecting fabric etc and sewing like mad.

"She was also asked to make a mask for a deaf person so she could still be lip read - she designed a mask with a clear panel at the front.

"Truly amazing. I am one very proud son."

Clare Barnes

Admin worker and events supervisor Clare Barnes has been nominated by her daughter Courtney White.

Clare, 41, has worked at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, since 1995 and is now working at Portsmouth Covid-19 Test Centre, at Tipner West, doing admin work.

The mother-of-one from Southampton first studied at Redbridge Community School and then went on to study at Tauntons College, Southampton.

She went travelling in 2012 and got married to husband Derek Barnes in August last year.

Her daughter Courtney said: "The reason I would like to nominate my mum is because she gets up very early and doesnt get home sometimes till 8.45pm.

"She still has the time on her days off to go above and beyond for my grandparents who are having to shield at home for 12 weeks."

Southampton Hospital workers from ward F8

Hospital staff from the F8 ward at Southampton General Hospital have been nominated by their boss Grace Pryce.

All nurses on the ward have been deployed as they discharge Covid-19 patients and are now helping other coronavirus wards at the hospital.

Those staff nominated include Alina Thapamagar; Leanne Coombes; Grace Pryce; Vicki Bates; Emma Benn-Godfroy; Sarah James; Diana Loureiro; Ethel Annoh; Carolina Ferreira Dos Santos; Jilsy Joseph; Sue King; Lira Que; Sheva Salahuddin; Gigi Sebastian; Kayleigh Colehorn; Jamie Dargan; Thresia Emmanuel; Renjitha Jojoe; Ellie Mincheva; Karina Reading; Naomi Riddett; Daniel Ruddy; Beth Smith; Tanya Williams; Kate Wooldridge; Shoma George Babu; Di Maggiore; Aga Rzepecka; Thur Sangalang; Aimee Venables; Pam Clark; Laura Corkindale; Chloe Martin; David Sutherland; Rena Ali; Amnda Aytoun; Sally Casey; Harry Chapman; Melissa Cox; Jordan Dewey; Caitlin Drake; Daps Fagbo; Maggie Floyd; Rob Goodeve; Juliet Jerrard; Davis Joseph, Lillie Kershaw; Sumaya Khan; Kelly Maguire; Emma McIntosh; Sarah Millar; Samantha Moreton; Andre Pina Dos Santos; Tracey Roblett; Jordan Steele; Wendy Stickler; Alexi Torry; Lisa Marie Wheeler; Alistar Wilson; and Hanna Zukowska.

Their boss Grace said: "I feel honoured and proud of my F8 Nursing team who are hard working, dedicated, and strive to deliver the best care for our patients."

Rhianna Saunders

Health care assistant Rhianna Saunders was nominated by her mother Rebecca Horton.

Rhianna, 19, has worked on the A and E department at Southampton General Hospital since February last year, as well as Cardiac Ward E3.

The sibling-of-six previously attended Oasis Academy Mayfield and celebrated her end-of-school prom in 2017.

She is saving for her C1 driving licence to enable her to become an ECA with South Central ambulance service and eventually wants to become a paramedic.

Rhianna, from Thornhill, Southampton, has moved into a camper outside the front of her home to self-isolate away from her family, as some of them have health conditions.

Her mother Rebecca said: "She took the decision to move out of our family home at the beginning of the Covid 19 outbreak and moved into a camper on our front lawn in order to keep the rest of our family safe.

"My son has a heart condition and two of my daughters are chronically asthmatic so were at high risk.

"It's been so hard for her to be away from her six siblings and out of the family home but she continues to care on the front line.

"I'm super proud of her determination and she is definitely a hero of mine."

Chantal Cousins

Staff nurse Chantal Cousins was nominated by her mother Sandy Le Saux.

Chantal, 32, from Eastleigh, lives with a long-term pre-cancerous gene disorder know as polyposis of the colon, which can lead to cancer.

At the age of four, she had to go into hospital every year to have test to see if the polyposis had become cancer.

Then at 16, Chantal under went a major operation at Southampton General Hospital to remove her large intestine as a result of the disorder.

Chantal has to have follow-up appointments for the rest of her life and another potential operation in the future to prevent getting cancer.

She studied Adult Nursing at Southampton University and has worked on the Respiratory High Care Department at Southampton General Hospital since 2018.

Her mother Sandy said: "A loving daughter and sister, Chantal Cousins is not onlyon the front line dealing with the Covid-19 virus, she is also living with and managing a long term pre-cancerous gene disorder.

"Chantal is always been a kind and caring wanting to give back to helping me through having cancer twice. As a result of this, she looked into nursing and went to Southampton University and qualified as a nurse.

"In her third year, Chantal become a mother herself, however continued to complete her nursing decree showing her determination and dedication to her career that she loves.

"Once she qualified she accomplished her dream job. Chantal is a very well-loved member of the team, not just by staff but by patients and their families.

"She is a very humble person and knows her job is not done without other NHS workers. I'm so very proud of Chantal."

Kerryanne Hurst

Sister and children's cardiac nurse Kerryanne Hurst was nominated by her auntie Susan Hurst.

Kerryanne, 45, from Woolston, has worked on the children's ward at Southampton General Hospital for several years, and previously studied at University of Southampton.

Before this, the now mother-of-three was a pupil at Weston Park Girls School, Southampton.

Kerryanne works with children and their families from when they are first born to 16-year-olds, and set up a support Facebook group during lockdown asking for donations for families and children at the hospital.

Her auntie Susan said: "The parents of the sick children have not been allowed to leave the ward since lockdown and Kerry arranged for suppliers to donate food for the parents whilst on the ward, as initially the hospital did not supply the food for them, however the hospital now supplies the food for them.

"She has also asked for donations for the children, nappies wet wipes, etc, and arranged the wash bags for nurses uniforms to be washed in.

"Also she has given donations to Southampton Hospital Charity whilst still working.

"She had a messy divorce last year and has three children to bring up, practically on her own. She deserves recognition for all her hard work."

Clarissa Chase

Covid commander and paediatric A&E consultant Clarissa Chase was nominated by her team on the Children's Emergency Department at Southampton General Hospital.

The mother-of-two stepped into the Covid commander role in February, which involves coordinating and supporting staff through changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She also made an Emergency Department Covid playlist on Spotify made from staff requests of uplifting song.

The team said in a statement: "The most deserving person of this nomination has to go to Clarissa Quinnell.

"Clarissa is a loving wife and doting mother to two beautiful girls.

"She somehow manages to successfully juggle the challenges that work has thrown at her as well as being a supportive wife and mother. I think every single member of staff in the Childrens Emergency Department would agree with this nomination.

"Throughout the last two months, Clarissa has coordinated and supported staff through frequent changes, challenges as well as provided us with constant updates, not to mention the occasional entertainment.

"As if life hasnt been busier enough for Clarissa, taking on this role, securing her dream job and managing previous family time, she recently made an Emergency Department Covid playlist to share on Spotify, made from staff requests of uplifting songs.

"Clarissa has been dedicated, hard working and visible throughout these weeks of very unusual times. Often found in the department with a smile on her face making jokes and keeping spirits high.

"From the heart we all are very thankful."

Gabor Keresztes

Coffee shop shift leader Gabor Keresztes was nominated by his friend David Nyiri.

Gabor, from Hedge End, works at Southampton General Hospital for catering group Feast Southampton.

The 30-year-old previously studied Accounting and Finance at University of Kaposvar, in Hungary, before moving to England.

He was also an assistant accountant in Winchester before he began working at the hospital.

His friend David said: "Very proud of him as a friend."

Continued here:
All of the 21st century Daily Echo hero nominations - Daily Echo