Making us proud of our community
UNSEEN and selfless people who go over and above and beyond the call of duty and make Guernsey a better place have had their achievements celebrated at the annual Pride of Guernsey Awards, hosted by Jo and Andy Priaulx.
A teenager who is overcoming family tragedy and now pursuing a career in helping others who have suffered similar traumatic experiences received one of the biggest cheers of the night when she won the Overcoming Adversity award.
In 2018, Cayleigh Bishop’s mum and stepdad both passed away, and her baby sister was adopted by a new family.
Cayleigh, who is now study-ing Health and Social Care at the Guernsey Institute, was commended for her spirit and courage in turning catastrophe into something positive.
In picking up the Close Finance-sponsored award, she expressed gratitude to all the people who had rallied round.
‘Thank you to family and friends, and thank you to the mental health team, and I’m not ashamed to say that because the team really helped me through the tough times that I’ve been through, and now I want to become a counsellor or a nurse in mental health.’
It was a good night for the Bishops because Cayleigh’s grandparents, Denise and Geoff Bishop, won Grandparents of the Year.
Last year they had finally achieved their dream of moving to Spain when they received the terrible news that their daughter had died.
They dropped everything to return to Guernsey and give their granddaughter the home, love and stability she needed.
On receiving the Channel Island Co-operative-sponsored award, Denise Bishop paid tribute to all the grandparents who play a big role in family life.
‘We must acknowledge all those other grandparents who have stepped in to help out one way or another. Love cannot be measured.
‘Have we come to terms with such a loss? No, we never will.
‘Are we working through it? Absolutely.’
Young people featured strongly in the awards night, such as Reece Knight who won the St Pierre Park Hotel sponsored ‘Young Achiever’ award.
Reece, 11, has severe visual impairment and he attends mainstream school at La Mare de Carteret, which doctors thought he would never accomplish.
With the accolade in his hand, Reece said it was important to set high aspirations.
‘I’ve got something to tell everybody in the world, no matter what just keep going.’
Siblings, Gracie Whitwam, 9, and Oliver Whitwam, 5, won special awards after Gracie overcame leukaemia following a bone transplant from her brother.
