STAR employees who really make a difference

Bury Council employees who have “gone the extra mile” have been formally thanked at the council’s annual Special Thanks And Recognition (STAR) awards.

In each of the council’s four departments, there were awards for Individual Employee of the Year and
Team of the Year. There were also awards for Partnership Team of the Year, Learner of the Year and Volunteer.

The most prestigious is the David Burton Achievement Award, named after a former chief executive of Bury Council. This is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding and significant contribution on behalf of the council.

This year’s winner is Betty Dempsey, a school crossing patrol officer. She was first employed as a ‘lollipop lady’ in 1977 when the service was run by the police and the official uniform was a white coat and black hat. In fact, she’s been working for so long outside Springside Primary School that some of the youngsters are the third generation of families she has helped.

Betty says the job gives her a purpose for getting up every school morning and going back again in the afternoon to help keep children safe on the road, and that the job keeps her fit and healthy.

The words of the people who nominated her say it all:

“Betty is a friendly face in the neighbourhood and has built up a good rapport in the community and with the school. Everyone always speaks highly of her cheerful manner and kindness.”

And from a member of the public:

“She must be one of the longest serving crossing patrols in the borough and I suspect that she is also one of the best loved.”

Mike Kelly, the council’s chief executive, said: “I just want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who was nominated for a STAR award, and indeed to all our employees. We all know that the council has been through many challenges, both financial and organisational, yet the levels of service which they
provide remain exceptionally high. These awards are one way of showing how much we, and residents of Bury, value their commitment.”

The MC for the night was Marie Holmes, a former Bury head teacher who won an award in the education and culture section in 2004.

The awards were sponsored by Hamilton Heath, Health and Safety Solutions, Ainsworth and Parkinson, and JW Lees.

ENDS

Press release issued: 8 July 2014.

Picture attached: Betty Dempsey, winner of the David Burton Award at the council’s
Special Thanks And Recognition awards.

Note to editors:

The full list of winners is:

    * Adult Care Services: Individual - Debra Guider, service manager, workforce and modernisation (runners-up: Sue Smith, Jodie Storr). Team - Pinfold Lane Day Centre (runners-up: ICES Stores, Adult Carers)

  * Chief Executive's Department: Individual – Rob Fullen, pay services manager (runners-up: Mark McNicholas, Karen Brockway). Team: Bury Support Fund Team (runners-up: Recruitment and Contracts Team, iTrent Project Team)

  * Children's Services: Individual – Paul Howard, senior school improvement (runners-up:  Tony Brunner, Marco Petrillo). Team - School Admissions Team (runners-up: Social Care CAMHS Team, Safeguarding Team)

  * Environment and Development Services: Individual – Caroline Cooper, finance manager (runners-up: Frank Jones, Betty Dempsey). Team - Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Team (runners-up: Pest Control Team, Libraries (All Employees))

  * Volunteer of the Year - Margaret Wild (runners-up: Stuart McLaren, Peter Dyer)

  * Learner of the Year – Gary Mahon, customer adviser (runners-up: Katie Murray, Emma Makin)

  * Partnership Award - Mark Allen, youth worker (runners-up: Roger Pakeman, Welfare Reform Board)

* David Burton Award – Betty Dempsey.