This month, we are proud to celebrate the remarkable acts of dedication, compassion, and quick-thinking shown by our team members across the country in September. These individuals went above and beyond, stepping in when needed most, making critical decisions in emergencies and demonstrating our core values with every action. Here’s a look at September’s Shining Stars and the inspiring stories that highlight their contributions.
Megan Demot (Safe Care, Leeds)
Nominated by Stuart Fletcher
Megan’s dedication shone brightly when our Durham base was short-staffed over a weekend. Megan didn’t hesitate – she stayed in a hotel and covered three consecutive night shifts to ensure essential services remained uninterrupted. Her commitment and sense of teamwork are inspiring and made a tremendous difference to the team in Durham. Megan exemplifies what it means to support one another, even in challenging circumstances.
Darren Hughes and Jade Dawson (Patient Care, Worcester)
Nominated by Fay Downes
Darren and Jade showed extraordinary courage when they arrived first at the scene of a road traffic collision involving seven people. Acting without hesitation, they took charge, called emergency services, and provided immediate first aid and emotional support. Their time on scene extended to 1.5 hours, during which they treated minor injuries, administered oxygen, and comforted those involved until help arrived. Operations Manager Fay Downes praised their “courage, strength and quick action,” adding that she couldn’t be prouder. Darren and Jade’s bravery in the face of a crisis is nothing short of remarkable.
Keith Vaughan (Courier Services, Ipswich)
Nominated by Guy Jeffries
Keith’s support has been invaluable to our Shropshire team, where he delivered fleet management refresher training and audits, ensuring the new team felt confident and capable. Guy Jeffries, Regional Senior Operations Manager, shared how Keith’s dedication and “one team” mentality empowered the team to manage their contracts with renewed confidence. Keith’s willingness to step up and provide this training has left a lasting positive impact on the team.
Aliza Smith (Controller/Planner, Bristol)
Nominated by David French and Ryan Kay
Although not officially part of the Keynsham staff, Aliza’s exceptional contribution could not go unrecognised. Stepping up to manage the BGSW planning – a challenging task she had never tackled before – Aliza displayed professionalism, calmness, and incredible organizational skills. Not only did she maintain smooth operations, but she also managed to save the company money by keeping the lowest taxi spend. Aliza’s work ethic and ability to stay composed under pressure perfectly embodies our values.
Andy Hamer and Isabelle Strawford (Patient Care, Keynsham)
Nominated by David French
En route to Bath Kidney Care, Andy and Izzy encountered an overturned car with two passengers – a mother and daugher – trapped inside. Izzy and Andy comforted them while waiting for the emergency services. When paramedics arrived, they requested Andy and Izzy’s assistance in stabilising and safely freeing the passengers. Thanks to their calm demeanour and rapid response, both individuals were safely transported to the hospital. Izzy and Andy’s empathy and decisive actions were crucial in this emergency.
Karen Rawcliffe and David Hargreaves (Patient Care, Worcester)
Nominated by Luke Serrell
After completing a patient transport journey to London, one of our crews noticed a man walking along the road in hospital clothing. Sensing something was wrong, they turned around to assist and quickly realised he was confused. They called 999 and discovered he had been missing all day, with the police searching for him. While waiting for an ambulance, the crew offered to transport the man back to the hospital, with the police accompanying them. Their compassion and quick thinking went above and beyond, ensuring his safe return.
