Author Archives: wendy
Why aren’t there more bus drivers like Les?
Les is a ‘hero of the road’! Salute to rule-breaking bus driver who goes extra mile for disabled passengers
From left: Ian Dalby, Jennette Arnold, Les Peacock and, in front, Angela Dobson
Published: 12 April, 2013
by PETER GRUNER
A “KINDLY” bus driver who admits to breaking the rules to help a severely disabled woman from Holloway get aboard his vehicle has been presented by her with a distinguished service commendation.
Les Peacock, 59, not only stops his No 17 bus when he sees people in wheelchairs, but against the company rules, he switches his engine off and personally helps them to navigate the vehicle’s automatic ramp.
This “simple act of kindness” so impressed disabled woman Angela Dobson, 62, who has cerebral palsy, that she decided to track Les down to the Metroline bus garage at Pemberton Gardens, Holloway, where he is based.
On Monday afternoon, Les was the proud recipient of a “hero of the road” certificate of commendation from Ms Dobson, with the support of London Assembly Labour member Jennette Arnold, on behalf of Islington’s disabled people.
Father-of-two Les, from Waltham Abbey, a double-decker bus driver for almost 40 years, has for most of that time operated route 17 from Archway, Caledonian Road, and King’s Cross-and London Bridge.
School nurses will help young carers
Carer aid of nurses at school
SCHOOL nurses are to act as “champions” for young carers who arrive for classes exhausted from helping relatives.
All 1,200 will be trained to pinpoint kids suffering from long hours looking after a disabled or ill relative. They may also be asked to advise desperate pupils after school.
As many as 700,000 pupils look after a sick family member.
Many end up playing truant or face bullying because their school work suffers. The Carers Trust said it was “heartened” by the plan as nurses are “ideally positioned” to help young carers. Children’s minister Edward Timpson said schools would be more “carer aware”.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4886016/Carer-aid-of-nurses-at-school.html
Today’s adults ‘unhealthier than their parents were’
How do you keep healthy?
Today’s adults are so unhealthy they are 15 years ‘older’ than their parents and grandparents at the same age,” reports The Daily Telegraph. This gloomy message is based on a study that found that despite a continuing trend of increasing life expectancy, overall, the adult population is less healthy than it used to be in the past.
Researchers drew these conclusions after comparing the prevalence of risk factors for stroke, heart disease and diabetes within different generations.
