Meltham Crossroads Project
Meltham Crossroads Project 2015 – represented here by Mrs Pat Radford and Mrs Catherine Moulson.
This organisation is a marvellous testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of these people who willingly give of their time to benefit the whole community in very many ways. Not only this but also to the kind, helpful and friendly manner in which they all conduct the business.
It is a departure for Meltham Town Council to make this award to a group of people nevertheless it is practical and there are many precedents elsewhere. We could not single out any individual because everyone helped in one way or another in the huge achievements the organisations has made.
Mr Wayne Barrett
Mr Wayne Barrett with his partner Anita Potts.
Wayne is the regular driver of the Meltham circular bus. He is friendly and polite, but much more than that, he shows a real concern for all who travel. Since working on the bus for the last ten years he has gained a good knowledge of all his passengers. He notices and checks up if they are missing. He helps those who are struggling, he will divert (by the allowed distance) to drop people near their destinations, eg the Cobbles Surgery. He has attended funeral services for those he has befriended over the years. For the older generation he has become a link between them and life in the village. He knows their interests and laughs and jokes with them. He is, in fact, a caring and important member of our village community, worthy of receiving the Pride in Meltham award.
Doreen Holmes and Barbara Sheard.
As the Vicar of Meltham I would like to fully endorse this proposal for Wayne to receive the Pride of Meltham Award. Sadly, I see Wayne too often at the funerals of Meltham people. He attends because he has got to know the person and has grown to love them too. Wayne is a life-line to many of our elderly folk, he knows when something might not quite be right and takes his queries further. He brightens up the day for his passengers and goes out of his way for them. A true inspiration to all of us who live or work in Meltham.
Reverend Maureen Read, Vicar of Meltham.
Mrs Judith Powell
Mrs Judith Powell with her husband Paul.
Judith Powell was born in Leeds and trained as a nurse at LGI. She later moved to Huddersfield and worked as a night sister at HRI and then a ward sister at Huddersfield Nuffield Hospital. She then moved into the hospice movement and ended up as Matron at Wakefield Hospice. This brought added responsibilities as the Yorkshire representative on the National Hospice Council and Chair of the Yorkshire Hospices Senior Management Group. On retirement she was appointed a non-executive director of the South Kirklees Primary Care Trust.
In Meltham she was active in St James Church at Meltham Mills and in 2007 became Church Warden. It was at the church that she became involved with Operation Christmas Child. Through what became known as the ‘shoebox appeal’ Christmas gifts for needy children throughout the world were packed in shoe boxes and then transported to places such as Iraq, Rumania and Haiti. From small beginnings the Meltham church became the base for much of Yorkshire – and much of this was due to the drive and effectiveness of Judith.
Judith was also elected to Meltham Town Council and served for 16 years. During that time she was chair of the planning committee and was twice chair of the council.
In 2003 Judith was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Great Britain for services to the community. In 2005 she received the Badge of the Order of Mercy for voluntary work.
Judith and her husband Paul had two children – Kate and Richard – and now have three grandchildren – Elliot, Lucy, and Daisy.
