Last updated at 15:06, Wednesday, 07 November 2012

A FORMER mayor who raised a record-breaking amount of money to provide lifesaving equipment across the borough has been nominated for a Love Barrow Award.

• NOMINEE: Holly Logan
• NOMINEE: Vicky Smith
• NOMINEE: Richard “Dick” Pickerill
• NOMINEE: Monica Pugh
• NOMINEE: Sonjie Mary Marshall
• NOMINEE: Liam Conroy
• NOMINEE: Voce, Barrow's male vocal group
• NOMINEE: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service Heartstart instructors

FEELING HONOURED: Former Barrow mayor, Councillor John Murphy, has been nominated for a Love Barrow Award LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50030262B000

During his 12 months in office in 2011/12, Councillor John Murphy’s defibrillator campaign raised an unprecedented £40,000 for his Barrow mayor’s charity fund.

Thirty defibrillators are now in place at various public locations across the borough.

And to take the campaign forward, the Newbarns councillor, of Mikasa Street, Walney, has set up a committee, featuring representatives of the police, fire and ambulance services, Barrow Borough Council and first response teams, to help train people in how to use them.

Cllr Murphy has been nominated for Citizen of the Year, sponsored by Furness Building Society, by Barrow photographer Steve Hillman.

He wrote in his nomination form: “John put in tireless work during his time as mayor, not only to promote Barrow and surrounding areas, but in raising money and awareness for his charity.

“Nothing was too much trouble and he is very approachable.”

Mr Hillman, who helps at Greengate Junior School in Barrow, where his wife is deputy headteacher, told the Evening Mail: “With John, you don’t even have to go through the official channels.

“I would just ask, ‘Can you come into school and do this and that?’ And he would do.

“We were doing a literacy project and he came in and just talked to the children about the first book he read.

“He brought his mayoral chains in and the kids love to see things like that.

“He’s well worthy of a nomination.”

Cllr Murphy, who as mayor attended 354 engagements with mayoress, wife Eleanor, said: “The mayorship, the whole year, was a great opportunity for me to promote the town of Barrow throughout the rest of the county. To be even nominated for this honour is such a fantastic accolade and I feel greatly honoured.”

To nominate your local hero(es), pick up a nomination form from the Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team office in Dalton Road, or go to www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk.

The deadline is November 5 at 2pm.

First published at 16:06, Friday, 12 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk