Community heroes from Somerset travel on GWR train named in their honour

Christopher, from Westbury-sub-Mendip, and Evette, from Taunton, were chosen as BBC Make a Difference Superstars for selflessly helping others at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Christopher helped to ensure the safety of 23 residents at Court House Retirement Home in Cheddar by gathering a team of carers who voluntarily locked themselves into a safe bubble for the benefit of their residents.

Royal Mail worker Evette put a smile on residents’ faces by galvanizing a team of 12 fancy-dress colleagues to deliver the post and raise money for the Love Musgrove Covid-19 Response Fund, helping nurses and patients at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Within a month they had raised more than £5,000. 

The pair were selected as BBC Make a Difference Superstars by judges following a link-up between the BBC and GWR to celebrate those people going above and beyond to help others in their communities.

Now their names feature at either end of Intercity Express Train 800029 as GWR continues to honour BBC Make a Difference Superstars from nine regions across the network.

Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow said:

“Evette is a real inspiration. As well as being a key worker delivering post and parcels throughout the pandemic, she went above and beyond to raise money for Musgrave Park Hospital – and putting a smile on people’s faces in the process.

“It’s because of people like her that we’ve managed to get through these difficult couple of years, and it’s absolutely fitting that GWR and BBC Radio Somerset have honoured her in this way.”

Wells MP James Heappey said:

“Christopher and his team at Court House Retirement Home showed absolute selflessness throughout the pandemic, sacrificing time with their own families to form Covid-secure bubbles for the safety of residents.

“It’s little wonder these heart-warming acts of kindness struck such a chord with the local community, who responded by leaving generous donations of their own for staff and residents to enjoy.

“Many of us have lost loved ones and had to make sacrifices over these past couple of years, but it’s thanks to people like Christopher and his team who have managed to keep community spirits alive.”   

Great Western Railway Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“Christopher and Evette went to incredible lengths to support their communities and we’re thrilled to add their names onto the side of an Intercity Express Train.  

“The GWR has a long and proud history of naming trains after Great Westerners – past and present heroes from across our network – and it’s a real treat to add these two community stalwarts to that list.

“It was a privilege to partner with the BBC Make a Difference campaign and the stories which featured on BBC local radio were truly overwhelming.”

Head of Audio and Digital for BBC England Chris Burns said: 

“We have been amazed by the response of many listeners to our Make a Difference campaign on Local BBC Radio, as listeners have been helping each other out throughout the pandemic. 

“It has been humbling to learn about the kind-hearted efforts of so many in our communities and Christopher and Evette are great examples to the rest of us. Congratulations to them and to the team at BBC Somerset.”

CHRISTOPHER DANDO

Care home manager Christopher and eight of his team moved in with their residents for 12 weeks to protect them. It meant staff didn’t see their families, working round-the-clock to keep the pandemic at bay.

Christopher, who went without seeing wife Alison and daughters Chloe and Edith, led by example, working in the kitchen, helping with personal care, emptying rubbish, cutting the grass and organising morale-boosting events for residents and staff.
 
The story touched the whole community, who were constantly leaving supplies on the doorstep and sending messages of support.

EVETTE WAKELY

Evette organised colleagues to dress as superheroes and cheer up customers, raising £5,500 for Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital. 

Evette also arranged for a convoy of Royal Mail vans to deliver a gift to a girl awaiting major heart surgery, as well as spearheading a fundraising month to raise £2,695 for the homeless and raising another £3,500 for St Margaret’s Hospice in Taunton.

Over the past few years she has also helped raise thousands of pounds for Elliot’s Touch, a charity in Watchet helping to fund research and find cures for Cardiomyopathy in Children and Mitochondrial Disease.