A DEATH-defying feminine cop, a charity employee tackling loneliness amongst OAPs and an Asian strolling group - meet the trio of winners who're the Satisfaction of Scotland.
PC Clare Chalmers, 55, Louise Russell, 46, and Boots & Beards, had been all honoured at our glittering ceremony at The Meeting Rooms in Edinburgh.
Right here we share their experiences of the unbelievable evening when Scotland mentioned thanks and the good and the nice honoured their achievements.
EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD - PC Clare Chalmers
OUTLANDER heartthrob Sam Heughan, EastEnders’ actress Laurie Brett and radio and panto legend Grant Stott had been honoured to sing the praises of hero cop PC Chalmers.
Laurie mentioned she was in awe of the policewoman’s instincts after she single-handedly tackled a knife-wielding thug who was threatening a girl at a distant house on the Isle of Mull.
The Waterloo Highway actress mentioned: “Discuss lady energy. Nothing was going to cease Clare defending the sufferer despite the fact that she should have recognized the non-public hazard she was in. What an unbelievable girl!”
Whereas in a particular video message Sam, who's tipped to play the following Bond, mentioned: “Clare you might be so very deserving of this award. You went above and past the decision of responsibility to guard the group. Thanks in your bravery and your dedication. We're all so very happy with you. I will probably be elevating a wee dram to you tonight.”
PC Chalmers, 55, was on her method house after a 10-hour shift when she was referred to as again to stories of a violent man on the free and because the nearest on responsibility officer was a ways away, she determined to attend alone.
When she arrived, the Constable discovered a girl with a bloodied face who mentioned she had been assaulted by a person and that he was nonetheless at massive within the property.
PC Chalmers discovered him hiding in one other room beneath a quilt. With out warning, he produced two knives and threatened to stab each the officer and the girl.
The officer pulled out her PAVA spray, and used it to disarm him earlier than main the girl the girl to security.
The person stayed within the property - threatening the ladies whereas they waited for backup.
Capital Radio’s Grant, who spent 4 years as an officer with Lothian and Borders police earlier than coming into present businesss, praised Clare’s bravery. He mentioned: “She is a credit score to her career, her nation and everybody who loves her. It takes guts to go it alone in opposition to an armed attacker. Her solely ideas had been to maintain the girl secure. What a remarkably courageous particular person she is.”
Clare mentioned: “I used to be solely doing what some other police officer would do in my place and I might do it once more in a heartbeat. My job is to guard. I really feel really humbled by this award.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland mentioned: “Clare’s instinctive and brave actions resulted within the arrest of a violent offender who subsequently obtained a custodial sentence.”
TSB COMMUNITY HERO - Louise Russell
STILL Sport’s Greg Hemphill and Gavin Mitchell had a ball on stage with big-hearted Louise Russell at our folks’s Oscars.
The actors joked round with the Glasgow charity employee and present host and co-star Sanjeev whereas presenting her well-deserved Particular Recognition award.
Greg and Gavin paid tribute to Louise, 46, who based a singular charity to deal with loneliness amongst previous folks by serving to them undertake rescue animals.
Chewin’ The Fats star Gerg mentioned: “What’s to not love about this unbelievable girl and her charity? There's a loneliness pandemic on this nation and Louise is on a mission to assist fight it. Pairing up OAPs and canines in want of a house is actually impressed.”
Gavin, who performs Boaby the Barman in Nonetheless Sport, added: “Like most individuals, my psychological well being took a beating throughout Covid and it was my wee Spanish rescue canine Boaby that received me by. What Louise is doing is great.”
Louise had all the time volunteered, however dreamed of organising a charity that will tackle two points near her coronary heart - animal welfare and isolation in older folks.
Her massive concept was to assist fight loneliness within the over-60s, by eradicating a few of the monetary limitations to adopting a rescue pet and in 2013, she based Give a Canine a Bone… and an animal a house.
In 2018, Louise expanded the charity’s providing by launching group house initiatives in Glasgow’s Shawlands, Troon and Alloa. Every group house operates a Pet Meals Financial institution, in addition to free actions for the over 60s, akin to Group Canine Walks, Reflexology, Chair Yoga, Artwork Membership and Singing for Wellbeing.
By means of the charity, Louise has helped hundreds of animals, and older adults, to have a happier life - collectively.
She mentioned: “Simply seeing the happiness and companionship a canine can deliver to somebody’s life is superb. So many older folks really feel lonely and remoted and a canine could make a life-changing distinction.”
Louise additionally received a video message from Afterlife star Ricky Gervais, who mentioned: “Congratulations on the good work you do for the older group and animals. All of them want our assist so effectively carried out.”
SPECIAL RECOGNITION - Boots & Beards
CORONATION Road star John Michie and Houses Underneath the Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell had been delighted handy over a Particular Recognition award to Naveed Bakhsh, 44, and Zain Sehgal, 35, from Boots & Beards.
Naveed and Zain, who run the distinctive mountaineering group with Kash Butt, 43, are serving to Glasgow’s Asian group uncover freedom, friendship and psychological wellbeing within the Scottish mountains.
Holby Metropolis actor John mentioned: “What a easy however extremely efficient concept this trio have had and carried out. They've blown me away. Strolling is sweet for the soul and physique and these gents have used it to foster friendship, psychological wellbeing and enjoyable.”
The fellows based Boots and Beards 5 years in the past after Kash fell severely sick and as a part of his restoration, determined to take up mountaineering to get match. Household and pals had been impressed by his Fb footage to affix him, and he quickly realised the walks might have a wider impression.
Kash, a pharmacy supervisor, mentioned: “Nature doesn’t recognise color; it's there for everybody. Additionally, there’s plenty of stigma about psychological well being in our group. It doesn’t get talked about, particularly amongst males. It’s their bravado. They're the household head and must be the sturdy one – generally that may be an excessive amount of.”
Zain added: “Once we began the group, males had been opening up. They had been with folks their age and will share any points that they had with folks they had been snug speaking to.”
Boots and Beards is open to all ages, faiths and genders, with pensioners and households with toddlers strolling collectively. Teams are actually blended, however there's additionally a girls solely group referred to as Bonnie Boots.”
TV favorite Martel mentioned: “I really like that they've now included a strolling group for girls the place they'll go away the trials of household life behind and have some me-time with feminine pals. What an inspirational group!”
Boots and Beards is now a registered charity, and has branched out into badminton, spin courses and boot camps. In addition they organise Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
They obtained a message from EastEnders actress Nina Wadia, who mentioned: “Nature is there for everybody to take pleasure in and what the group is doing is so vital and they're sending out a very optimistic message. Nicely carried out Boots & Beards you're the delight of Scotland.”
- The Each day Document Satisfaction of Scotland Awards with TSB, will broadcast on STV on Tuesday, July 19 at 8pm