Five people in Salisbury who deserve a shout-out

The pandemic has brought heartbreak, worry and frustration and in one way or another, with all our lives having been affected and disrupted.

But if there’s one good thing coronavirus has done, it has shed light on how strong our community can be when we all come together.

This year, there have been plenty of examples of strong community spirit and lots of feel-good stories have been printed based on kind-hearted individuals who put others above themselves.

With that in mind, the Salisbury Journal would like to recognise those people who, in the past few months, have gone out of their way to support their community and play their part.

We have asked you, our readers, to get in touch and tell us about someone whose contribution has been particularly invaluable to you and your family.

This week, we have featured five people praised for their efforts to help others during the pandemic in a variety of different ways.

They have been volunteering, fundraising and providing much-needed reassurance.

But as we all come together for Christmas, we would like to hear about more ‘pandemic heroes’ as we know that there are plenty more besides those featured below.

Whether it’s a friend, a neighbour or a member of your family – if there is someone you want to thank for what they have done in these challenging times, this is your chance to nominate them and give them the shout-out they deserve.

To take part, fill out this form.

Amanda Brockway

The headteacher of Broad Chalke Primary School has been nominated by one of the parents for the “complete dedication, incredible hard work and professionalism” showed throughout the pandemic.

Particularly inspiring were Mrs Brockway’s newsletters which were “far from the generic style”. One of them, dated May 19, ended with a personal upbeat story.

After outlining the approach the school would take in regards to a wider reopening, Mrs Brockway told parents about her own education which was “rather disjointed” due to her circumstances which saw her change five schools in the space of seven years.

Despite this, thanks to the support of her family, Mrs Brockway went on to become a teacher and a headteacher. 

“The moral is,” she wrote, “Education is vital but life skills and wellbeing are more important. All this disruption will pass and it will be ok. I definitely have gaps in my learning and there are elements of certain subjects which I did not master. But it did not hold me back; if anything it made me stronger.”

In her submission, the parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The added personal touch was awe-inspiring and moved many to tears. There is no doubt that this has been a testing time for headteachers but with her truly outstanding foresight and leadership skills, Amanda maintained a professional calmness that led the way forward by supporting pupils, parents and staff alike and even during full lockdown, the school continued to flourish in its new guise.”

Dion Spencer

When the pandemic hit, professional DJ Dion Spencer, also known as Disco Dion, saw all of his gigs and events cancelled.

To cope with loss of income, the father-of-three got a job as a temporary Tesco driver but it wasn’t long until he discovered new ways to continue to entertain his audience from the comfort of his home in Durrington.

Virtual afterschool and holiday clubs, Friday night music quizzes, Saturday night house parties and Sunday afternoon mixes are just some of the ways the 47-year-old carried on doing what he loves while helping others and raising thousands for charity.

He even organised two 24-hour ‘discothons’, which resulted in £5,670 being raised for the Stars Appeal and £1,900 for The John McNeill Opportunity Centre in Salisbury and mental health charity Mind.

In total, Dion raised an amazing £9,670 – more than he and his family could ever imagine.

His wife Emma said: “[Dion] loves entertaining people, he’s an all-round good guy. I’m very proud of what he’s achieved, for a lot of people he’s kept them going but taking part in everything he’s done, it’s kept him going too. The charities were very happy.”

His three daughters also got involved, filming family Tik Toks for everyone to enjoy. Now though, they would very much like their dad to go back to work, joked Emma.

“Our sitting room is like a studio, the girls can’t wait to have a Saturday where we’re not having a party but they’re very proud and they loved being involved with the craziness that he is.”

Valerie Ridout

Mum-of-three Valerie Ridout, 47, was the driving force behind Tisbury Miracle Makers, a group of sewers that came together to turn bed sheets, pillow cases and cotton fabric into scrub bags, masks, headbands and ear-savers for care homes and GP surgeries.

Helped by her friend Elizabeth Jones and her children, Valerie galvanised the community, recruiting volunteers and delivering their PPE to those who needed it most across Wiltshire and Dorset.

Through donations, the group has also raised nearly £7,000 for the Stars Appeal.

Her friend Joanna Jacobs says Val is “an inspirational Wonder Woman”.

She said: “It was quite amazing how everyone pulled together, but the most amazing thing was how organised Val was considering she was anxious about coronavirus and was home schooling her two young sons at the same time.”

Speaking soon after the group was set up back in April, Valerie, who normally works for Wiltshire Council, said she was overwhelmed by the response. Being so busy helped her cope with anxiety and her panic attacks.

Her husband Andy said: “[Val] has a kind heart and is always giving, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Val is truly selfless and needs a shout-out for all she does.”

Kevin McGuinness

Kevin McGuinness, deputy head at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Laverstock, has been thanked for his hard work making the school safe and ensuring communication with families was “as clear as possible”. 

During the first lockdown, Kevin, who previously worked as an industrial designer, also manufactured PPE which was then delivered to key workers all around the country.

The father-of-two moved a plastic laser cutting machine from the school to his home, turning his kitchen into a workshop where face shields could be made for 16 hours a day. 

His dedication and that of his colleagues resulted in an incredible 45,000 PPE items being made.

But it’s not just his efforts at the height of the pandemic that made a lasting impression. 

His problem-solving skills have also come in handy at this particularly challenging and stressful time.

A colleague of his who nominated him to thank him for his efforts said:

“Now that we’re back in school, obviously we’ve had confirmed cases where people have had to go off but [Kevin] just plods on and keeps going. 

“He’s been communicating with parents and us as well and trying to make our life easier as teachers.

“Rather than falling on the first hurdle, he always tries to find a solution and I think he deserves a shout-out.”

Jane Podkolinski

Jane Podkolinski, who retired from her work as a midwife at Salisbury District Hospital eight years ago, is among the volunteers whose efforts have proved invaluable.

As part of her role with The Compassionate Communities Scheme, organised by Salisbury City Council and Wessex Community Action, Jane collected prescriptions, went shopping for the elderly and continued regular phone calls to one lady. 

She said: “I volunteered because I am able to do it and I want to contribute to the community. It’s rewarding and a privilege because it is a very trusting relationship and you do get to know the sorts of thing people like when you do their shopping.

“Over time you learn more and more about the people you are helping and they get to know you. It’s just about being kind to one another, which makes a difference in these times and you are rewarded over and over again just by doing something for someone because they in turn do something for you, even if it is just their smile or saying thank you.”