Just one days left to nominate your Great Scot

Jul 27 2008

In just two months one ordinary man, woman or group will be named Great Scot 2008.

You have until noon on Friday to tell us about people who have achieved the extraordinary.

Our champ and four unsung heroes will be crowed on September 20 at a lavish ceremony at Glasgow's Hilton.

For more details and to nominate your Great Scot, click here.

And to inspire you, we present the stories of three Scots whose acts of bravery and charity could put them in the frame for this year's award.

  

UNSUNG HERO

FREEZING and close to drowning, the terrified crew of the stricken fishing boat prayed in the dark for help.

The Spinningdale had run aground on remote St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides.

The Spanish trawler was being smashed against the rocks at the foot of a cliff by rain and force 10 winds.

But Stornoway coastguard helicopter pilot Liz Smith and her team were soon on the scene for one of the most dramatic search and rescue operations of their careers.

At 5.30am on February 1, Liz and her crew risked death to save others.

Brave Liz, 34, managed to fly her Sikorsky S-92 helicopter within inches of the cliff face, allowing winch operator Larry Warrington, 55 and winchman Phil Slater, 49, to haul the 14-strong crew to safety. The heroics of Liz, Britain's only female helicopter captain in civilian search and rescue, and her team earned them a nomination for Great Scot of 2008.

Liz, who has a three-year-old daughter, Emma, with RAF winchman Gary, 44, said: "It was one of the most difficult rescues I have ever had to do.

"It was pitch black and the wind was whipping the sea into a frenzy.

"Wehad to wait half an hour until there was enough light for me to tuck the helicopter in, then it took a lot of effort to hold steady enough for Larry and Phil to winch the men to safety, all the while keeping the blades away from the cliff.

It was a great achievement."

Mary Martin, of Glasgow, who nominated the crew, said: "I remember reading about their courage and thinking, 'Thank goodness there are people like Liz and her team to keep Scotland's seas safe.'"

But Manchester-born Liz, who joined Stornoway Coastguard last year, humbly says rescues are just a day's work.

She added: "We feel very flattered to be recognised but saving people is what we have been trained to do and if we can, we will. It is one of the best jobs in the world."

UNSUNG HERO

WHEN schoolboy Calum Speirs was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour his dying wish was for his family to build a holiday home for other terminally ill children to enjoy.

Thanks to the tireless fundraising efforts of his twin sister Jenna, 13, and his mum and dad, Calum's dream is coming true.

Since his death in February 2007, Jenna has helped raise more than s300,000 for the four-bedroom cabin, which will be built near her home in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

Jenna, hermumCaroline, 40, and dad Duncan, 46, also set up the registered charity Calum's Cabin to help with the appeal. Jenna's determination to fulfil her brother's dying wish earned her a string of Great Scot nominations.

Last night, she said: "Calum was not only my twin brother he was my best friend and when he died I felt like half of me had disappeared.

"Concentrating on his dying wish has helped me stay focused.

"Calum always wanted to help others and even when he was ill he took part in a triathlon with me to help the hospital that was treating him. He would be very proud of us for having raised enough to make his cabin become a reality.

"Through the holiday home and the charity his name will live forever.

"It's lovely to get nominated but not for my sake, for Calum's.

"The more publicity the cabin gets, the more children we can help out and that's what my brother would want."

Jenna did everything from organising charity football matches to selling flowers in a bid to raise money.

One of her many nominations came from her aunt, Jennifer Shaw.

She said: "She is are markable young teenager who has learned hard lessons far too early in life.

"Her determination to see this holiday home come to fruition is worthy of an award."

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

WHEN gran Edna Morrison beat breast cancer she put her heart and soul into helping her local hospice.

The retired librarian, 73, has now been volunteering at the Highland Hospice Shop in Wick for 15 years.

Edna said: "I had the lump removed and had seven weeks of radiotherapy.

"The cancer never returned but I was one of the lucky ones.

Helping in the hospice shop is my way of giving something back to the medics who cared for me."

Edna, who is married to David, 68, also spends her free time teaching English to Polish immigrants and volunteers with her local Home start programme.

She said: "There are a lot of families with three or more kids under four and this can be quite a handful in the morning, so I help the parents get them ready."

Edna's daughter Glenna, 36, nominated her for a Morrisons Community Champion Award, which also earned her s250.

Glenna said: "Mum has worked tirelessly over the past 30 years in her local community and has brought great joy into people's lives. She's an inspiration."

Edna said: "I was told as a child that if someone does not have a cake but you do, you offer them half. That's the motto I live by and it gives me lots of pleasure."

To book your place at the big night phone 0141 309 1438