DO YOU HAVE A LOCAL HERO LIKE GOUROCK CALMAC EMPLOYEE ERIC RUTHVEN?


Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling on communities across Scotland to identify their local heroes such as popular Caledonian MacBrayne employee Eric Ruthven of Argyll, who they believe should be honoured by the nation.
Gordon Brown said:
“All of us know someone in our street or someone in our community who spends all their spare time helping others. They are always raising money for charity, running errands for elderly neighbours, coaching kids, or doing something to bring the town together.

“Carers, helpers, or just good neighbours, nothing is ever too much trouble or too much effort: they are the people who inspire us all, make our lives happier or easier, and make our neighbourhoods safer and stronger. They are the everyday heroes who make Britain great.

“And how many times do we say to each other: ‘That person deserves a medal’. Well I think it is time they got what they deserved. And that is why I want us to see more of our local heroes presented with an MBE or an OBE by Her Majesty The Queen.

“And now you can help your local heroes get the recognition they deserve. Nominating someone is simple: call 020 7276 2777 or visit www.honours.gov.uk and you can start the ball rolling today.”

Eric Ruthven, aged 43, received an MBE in this year’s New Year Honours List for services to the Community in Dunoon, Argyll.  CalMac Chairman Peter Timms said:
“Eric is a remarkable individual who has overcome his Downs Syndrome disability to achieve astonishing results.  Eric is Caledonian MacBrayne’s most popular member of staff in the Support Services operation at Gourock.  He is unfailingly willing and helpful, and extremely popular with staff and customers alike. He is a remarkable individual who has led a lifetime of achievement across many areas, including his willingness to raise money for charities.

“I support the Prime Minister’s request for more local people like Eric to be nominated for a national honour.  This award has brought a great deal of delight and satisfaction to Eric and to all at CalMac.  I would encourage more Scots to nominate their “local heroes” for future honours awards.”   

Eric Ruthven is now well-known to most regular travellers on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry, and is a much admired member of staff.  As well as working for CalMac, Eric spends a lot of his own time raising money for various charities, church activities and local community causes, through sponsored walks and runs in particular.  He has raised many thousands of pounds through his remarkable efforts .  His most recent triumphs include participating in the Dunoon Relay for Life annually where he has raised over £1,000 on each occasion for cancer research.

DETAILS
In this year’s New Year’s Honours List, more than 4 in 5 of all the OBEs and MBEs awarded went to people who have carried out valuable charitable or voluntary work, either as a career or in their own spare time.

The honours presented by HM The Queen are highly-valued.  There are only around 2,000 awarded each year and only the most worthy candidates succeed. That is why the Government wants local communities to help identify the unsung heroes who have made the best contributions so that they can be put forward for consideration.

These will not just be the people who have raised the most money or achieved the most prominence, but also the quiet, modest individuals who have given up huge amounts of time and energy over many years to help the people around them.

To find people like Eric, the Government wants the involvement of organisations across the country – from charities and voluntary organisations to local councils and health authorities, from sports clubs and youth clubs to church groups and old people’s homes.

The Government is also appealing to local newspapers and ordinary people to search for their own local heroes.
Anyone is allowed to make a nomination – you do not need to be an official of any organisation. To find out how, go to www.honours.gov.uk, call 020 7276 2777, send an e-mail to ceremonial@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk or write to the Ceremonial Secretariat, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ.

Nominations are considered by the independent Honours Committees, and their recommendations on who should be honoured are announced twice a year in the New Year’s Honours and HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The nomination process is very rigorous and can take some time. And unfortunately, because receiving an honour is rare, not everyone can succeed in achieving this special recognition, but that should not stop them being considered, and your local hero has the same chance as everyone else.

To help people considering making nominations understand the process, the following additional advice might be helpful:

1. Who can nominate?  Anyone can nominate someone for an honour.  Download the form from www.honours.gov.uk or write to Ceremonial Secretariat, Cabinet Office, 35 Great Smith St, London SW1P 3BQ.
2. What do I need?  You will need two or more letters endorsing your nomination from other people who know about what the person has done or have been directly helped by them. Think about the best people to help support your nomination. 
3. Anything else? It helps if you provide some accompanying evidence of the impact your local hero has had. There might be press cuttings from the local paper, or the local school or hospital newsletter.
4. What do I tell my nominee?  Do not tell your local hero that you have nominated them.  Honours are rare, and this avoids disappointment if they are not successful.
5. What next?  The selection process is rigorous and can take 12-18 months.  You can always check progress with Ceremonial Secretariat.

ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Caledonian MacBrayne Chairman Peter Timms, will be available for interview – for more information please contact Katy Jeffrey 0131 244 9062
2. Photograph are available from Katy Jeffrey 0131 244 9062
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CABINET OFFICE BY GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK SCOTLAND www.gnn.gov.uk TEL: 0131 244 9062