A “one in a million mum” who her daughter says has more energy than her five children put together has been nominated for this year’s Comet Community Awards.
Barbara Francis from Stevenage has been put forward by her daughter Rachel in the Lifetime Achievement category.
In her nomination, she said: “My mum is fantastic, she is one in a million and has done so much for her family and the wider community.
“She has more energy that any of her five children put together – regularly providing child care for her eight grandchildren too. Her love and support are both tireless and unconditional – and she is an inspiration to us all.
“As well as raising five children she worked as a primary school teacher for 20 years, mainly at Stevenage’s Wellfield Wood and The Leys as it later became.
“She is an active member of Bunyan Baptist Church where she has been an elder for 15 years. Her work involves supporting members of the church who have all types of needs from spiritual to practical help like taking children to school, ironing and sometimes just listening. She was also a church deacon for three years and regularly takes sermons and leads services.
“She is deeply committed to her pastorial work, visiting people in hospital and comforting families when they lose loved ones. She also helps families when they need counselling and support in relation to relationship troubles.
“She regularly visits the elderly people within the congregation and for 15 years she helped run the lunch club – taking older people to and from the lunches, as well as organising and assisting with day trips.
“She has also been a child protection focal point for the church and performed two eight-year stints as a Sunday school teacher. And in 2015 travelled to Zimbabwe and fulfilled a life long ambition to work as a volunteer for a home for the elderly.
“In short, there is so much my mum does – she never stops giving and at 78 she is still going strong, and helping others to be live happy lives. She truly deserves this recognition.”
There are 12 categories to choose from for the awards, which this year are being held at Hotel Cromwell in Stevenage.
To nominate someone before the deadline on Friday, April 13, visit cometcommunityawards.co.uk.
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