RED CROSS AWARD FOR OMAGH
Red Gross award for Omagh
THE BRAVERY of the people of Omagh was officially recognised by the British Red Cross last week, when the town was honoured with a special community award.
Breaking with tradition, the commendation, which is usually awarded to a single person, was presented to the townspeople for the courage they displayed after the August 15th bombing outrage.
The presentation was made at the 'Care in Crisis' Red Cross national awards ceremony in the Langham Hilton Hotel in London last Thursday. John McKinney, Chief Executive of Omagh District Council; Glynis Henry, Clinical Services Manager at the Tyrone County Hospital; and David Bolton, Director of Community Care Services at the Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust, were in attendance to collect the accolade on behalf of the town.
The Zeneca sponsored awards are presented annually to "people who have given practical and emotional support to people in an emergency crisis".
Handing over the special community award to the three representatives who had travelled from Omagh, Sir David Barnes, Chief Executive of Zeneca, said it was in recognition of the townspeople's strength, selflessness and compassion in tragic circumstances.
A letter from the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, praising the bravery of Omagh's people, was also read out at the prizegiving.
Mr McKinney spoke beforehand about the devastation in Omagh and the town's recovery since.
"It is still very close to oeople's minds undoubtedly, but people are looking to the future.
"The effects of the bomb are very visible and the fact that the buildings are still in disarray and that you see people with disabilities as a result of it. People can't get away from it."
David Bolton added: "The timing of this is very important as it comes three months after the event when we thought the rest of the world had forgotten. It is an encouragement to the people of Omagh.
"Everyone in the whole of the British Isles have been very generous and kind."
A British Red Cross spokesman said the presentation to the people of Omagh was a break with tradition: "We have never done anything like this before."
"This is a very special award and it will not be repeated. But we wanted to pay tribute to the great courage of Omagh and the way in which ordinary people and organisations worked together in the aftermath of the tragedy."
The spokesman added: "Sixteen of our volunteers worked tirelessly for the 48 hours immediately after the bomb blast on August 15 and the regional office want to recognise the fact that everyone in the small town was affected by the tragic events that day and that everyone pulled together to provide assistance and support during a tragic and devastating episode."
Among those celebrities who attended the glittering Red Cross ceremony last week were actresses Helen Mirren and Nerys Hughes, television presenter John Stapleton, athlete Sally Gunnell, and broadcasters Angela Rippon and Claire Raynor.
Claire Raynor said that the people of Omagh deserved to be singled out for this unique award.
"The special award this year is the one to the whole community of Omagh. We talked about it and decided it was a must. They showed what friends, relatives and next door neighbours can do when they join together when faced with such a terrible situation.
"They are an example to all communities of the sort of care system that can be held in a community."
THE BRAVERY of the people of Omagh was officially recognised by the British Red Cross last week, when the town was honoured with a special community award.
Breaking with tradition, the commendation, which is usually awarded to a single person, was presented to the townspeople for the courage they displayed after the August 15th bombing outrage.
The presentation was made at the 'Care in Crisis' Red Cross national awards ceremony in the Langham Hilton Hotel in London last Thursday. John McKinney, Chief Executive of Omagh District Council; Glynis Henry, Clinical Services Manager at the Tyrone County Hospital; and David Bolton, Director of Community Care Services at the Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust, were in attendance to collect the accolade on behalf of the town.
The Zeneca sponsored awards are presented annually to "people who have given practical and emotional support to people in an emergency crisis".
Handing over the special community award to the three representatives who had travelled from Omagh, Sir David Barnes, Chief Executive of Zeneca, said it was in recognition of the townspeople's strength, selflessness and compassion in tragic circumstances.
A letter from the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, praising the bravery of Omagh's people, was also read out at the prizegiving.
Mr McKinney spoke beforehand about the devastation in Omagh and the town's recovery since.
"It is still very close to oeople's minds undoubtedly, but people are looking to the future.
"The effects of the bomb are very visible and the fact that the buildings are still in disarray and that you see people with disabilities as a result of it. People can't get away from it."
David Bolton added: "The timing of this is very important as it comes three months after the event when we thought the rest of the world had forgotten. It is an encouragement to the people of Omagh.
"Everyone in the whole of the British Isles have been very generous and kind."
A British Red Cross spokesman said the presentation to the people of Omagh was a break with tradition: "We have never done anything like this before."
"This is a very special award and it will not be repeated. But we wanted to pay tribute to the great courage of Omagh and the way in which ordinary people and organisations worked together in the aftermath of the tragedy."
The spokesman added: "Sixteen of our volunteers worked tirelessly for the 48 hours immediately after the bomb blast on August 15 and the regional office want to recognise the fact that everyone in the small town was affected by the tragic events that day and that everyone pulled together to provide assistance and support during a tragic and devastating episode."
Among those celebrities who attended the glittering Red Cross ceremony last week were actresses Helen Mirren and Nerys Hughes, television presenter John Stapleton, athlete Sally Gunnell, and broadcasters Angela Rippon and Claire Raynor.
Claire Raynor said that the people of Omagh deserved to be singled out for this unique award.
"The special award this year is the one to the whole community of Omagh. We talked about it and decided it was a must. They showed what friends, relatives and next door neighbours can do when they join together when faced with such a terrible situation.
"They are an example to all communities of the sort of care system that can be held in a community."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1702
Published Date: 19-Nov-98
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