Vote for Frome’s Person of the Year

THE nominees for Frome Times’ Person of the Year 2013 competition have been compiled, and now readers are being asked to cast their vote on who they think should be crowned the winner.

In our last issue, Frome Times asked readers to nominate their ‘Person of the Year’ – somebody in the town who deserves recognition for their outstanding actions over the past year or who has had the biggest impact on life in the town.  Below are the nominations. You can vote by simply emailing your choice to news@ frometimes.co.uk or by filling out the form on page 19 and returning it to the Absolutely Fabulous costume hire shop on Bath Street, Frome. BA11 1DJ

The deadline for voting is 5.00pm on WEDNESDAY 22nd JANUARY.

DOROTHY-ANNE BRYANT 

Dorothy has been organising litter picking and the weeding of the river in Frome for seven years. She also belongs to the team that organises health walks and preaches in local churches and gets involved in helping out in the community where possible.

Dorothy said, “I am pleased to include all the teams that have helped with these activities in my nomination.”

LILY-MAY TWOHIG 

Lily-May is an inspiration to young people after she started her business “Great Lengths Hair” when she left college aged just 18. Lily-May’s nominator said, “She has been hailed as a role-model to the young people of Frome.” In December 2013 she opened her own salon in Frome which has already been a success that promises to grow even further. Lily-May said, “It’s brilliant to be nominated. All the support I’ve got has been great and thanks to whoever nominated me!”

SHIRLEY WORT

Shirley’s son Julian died aged 28 in 2000 with a rare heart condition. Since then, she has been involved with fundraising activities for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) a charity which supported her family after their loss. She set up the Julian Wort Memorial Fund and has raised over £32,500 to date and donated two ECG machines and two defibrillators  to Frome Hospital. In October 2014 Shirley  organised a CRY screening event funded by Julian’s Memorial Fund, for 14-35 year olds. Shirley said, “I am very surprised and honoured that someone took the trouble to nominate me.”

JIM PARSONS 

Jim’s company operates a charity fund, which over the last 4 years has raised more than £5,600 for locally-based charities including; FACT Youth Fund, Frome Dissenters Cemetery, Frome Cricket Club (Youth Section), Frome Town Youth Band and People Against Poverty.

Recently, cheques have been presented to the latest beneficiaries; Frome Branch Royal British Legion and PAC (Positive Action on Cancer) each received a cheque for £665. Jim said, “I am surprised to be nominated. What we do is just something that we do, to us it is not something out the ordinary, it’s a matter of course.” Jim has been working in payroll for 48 years. He said, “This year, in celebration of our 25th year in business we are attempting to raise £2,500 each for Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.”

JOHN DEAN

John, has been chief marshal for Frome for 30 years and was previously a postman in Frome for 45 years. He has been involved in organising road closures across Somerset for carnivals; ensuring the safety of thousands of people who turn out for events. He is also involved in community events across Frome. John said, “I am very happy and proud to be nominated for The Person of the Year in Frome.”

CHARLOTTE PAULSSON

Charlotte was in her first year of marriage to Anton when he was taken seriously ill with an auto-immune disease that resulted in him being in a coma for a month. As a result, he has been left with some visual and mental impairment. After six months in Frenchay Hospital he returned home. Shortly afterwards, Charlotte’s mother unexpectedly died.

Charlotte’s nominator said, “Although her heart must have been breaking Charlotte remained a tower of strength for her dad and younger siblings. She visited Anton nearly every day, kept everyone up to date with his progress and looked after their 11-month old daughter. She deserves to be person of the year because in 2013 she proved time and time again that she is the strongest, bravest, most loyal and big hearted woman I know and I am honoured to call her my friend.”

Charlotte said. “I am very touched to be nominated, I’ve been told I should be proud of myself for how I had dealt with it but I just did what anyone would do as a wife.”

TONY PERRY

Tony helps with the charity Mencap which provides a fortnightly social club for adults with learning disabilities. He is also involved with the charity Gateway and is involved with campaigning for better services for people with learning disabilities. Tony is a trustee of Harry’s Hydro, the local charity which has a hydrotherapy pool. Opened 13 months ago, the hydrotherapy pool is used by a range of people, from those recovering from hip replacements to permanent disabilities

Tony is also involved with the Wessex Counselling Service which is based in Frome. For 27 years he has run a community café in Selwood Road where he provides welfare benefit advice and also an access point for Foodbank – emergency provision for people in financial crisis for Frome. He is a Holy Trinity Church council member and on the committee for the Frome Relief in Sickness fund. Tony said, “I am slightly embarrassed but flattered and surprised to be nominated.”

JIM PLUNKETT-COLE

Jim was nominated after completing the most amazing challenge lasting throughout 2013. Jim ran at least 10k every day with Neil Taylor and Alfredo the dog to raise money for the charities Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Positive Action on Cancer. So far £20,000 has been raised with that figure still rising.

As well as the challenge of completing a long distance run every day Jim has also had to deal with difficult personal challenges but remained dedicated to the causes and the challenge throughout.

Jim said, “I’ve been so surprised by the public’s reaction. I never thought I would inspire anyone and I’ve been told I have. For us just to be nominated for this special award is really quite extraordinary to us.

“Thanks everyone who took the time to email the Frome Times, we feel a very special part of this wonderful town.”

SIMONE BENHAYON

Simone has been nominated for her dedication and commitment to the local community after setting up a swim school which was voted ‘Best swim school in the UK’ in 2013.

She has taught swimming for 12 years giving many an opportunity to people of all ages, abilities and interests, to enjoy the water from a place of fun.

She offers free swimming lessons to families who can’t afford them, works with charities to allow people with medical ailments lessons to help rehabilitation and forged links with local schools to improve the number of children able to swim.

She said, “To be nominated is a great honour and has come as a complete surprise.”