Pride of St Helens Awards 2023 - nominees for Unsung hero

In this week's paper (in shops now) we published a 16-page supplement profiling each of the shortlisted nominees for this year's ceremony.

Throughout this weekend and next week ahead of the event at the Totally Wicked Stadium, we will be sharing our categories of nominees with you.

Here are your nominees for Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Pride of St Helens Award - Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Handepay

John Aspinall

John Aspinall (Image: John Aspinall)

JOHN Aspinall is a muchloved figure at Clock Face Miners who has been volunteering at the rugby league club for the past 40 years.

Walking or travelling by bus to the club every single day, John helps out with a multitude of tasks that often go under the radar.

This includes setting out the rugby and football pitches for matches, litter picking and keeping the area around the club clean, opening the changing rooms and ensuring they are clean and organising the kits ready for away games.

A dedicated member of the club, John always shows his support by travelling with the team on away days. He also helps out with community events at the club, such as serving up hot meals for the elderly, food bank activities, and brass band nights.

John’s commitment to the club and local community is described as being second to none. To give up his spare time for 40 years is quite the achievement and the people of Clock Face would like to recognise his efforts and let John know just how much he is appreciated by the club and community.

Phil Glover

Phil Glover (Image: Phil Glover)

AFTER being involved with the club for what feels like a lifetime, Phil Glover is a highlyrespected volunteer and one of the leading figures at Thatto Heath Crusaders.

From a player to a coach of three teams, Phil was one of the driving forces to launch the Open Age women’s team and is often a mentor, counsellor, and negotiator to anyone who needs him at the community rugby club.

For those who know him, nothing is ever too much for Phil and he often goes beyond rugby to assist with one-to-one’s with children, parents and older players, to help with confidence, behaviour and mental health issues.

In addition to this, you can also find Phil helping people in the community and doing voluntary work at the women’s refuge, helping them with jobs, confidence, food parcels, and setting up bank accounts, while also supporting men who have alcohol addiction and mental health obstacles.

Phil is also the vice chairman of governors at Bleak Hill school, where he attends meetings and assists with wider aspects of how the school is running, and despite going above and beyond in many ways, he remains very much under the radar when it comes to praise.

Julie Devine

Julie Devine (Image: julie devine)

WITH a desire to help the elderly, Julie Devine has been organising tea dances at St Helens Town Hall, for the past six years, with the assistance of St Helens Council, her mum, and some trusted volunteers.

After travelling around the local charity shops to collect enough china tea cups and saucers, Julie’s events have blossomed into one of the most anticipated dates on the calender for those involved.

On top of the unlimited tea, coffee, and cakes, the tea dances give the pensioners a chance to dance to music they grew up loving, feel less isolated, and have a good old natter with friends, both new and old.

Highlighting the importance of the events in the community, they grew from infrequent meet ups, to monthly and then weekly events at the town hall.

Although Covid interrupted this routine, the tea dances are again increasing their numbers and plan to have twicemonthly events in the new year, after their big Christmas event next month.

Tireless with her tea dance organising, Julie said it is “such a lovely thing” to see the pensioners enjoy themselves and leave with a big smile on their faces.