Martin goes the extra mile (From York Press)

Martin Fowler nominated for Community Pride Award

9:10am Wednesday 28th March 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

AN estate worker who always goes the extra mile to help people has been nominated as York’s public sector hero in The Press’ Community Pride Awards.

Martin Fowler, of City of York Council, has been nominated for an award for his thoughtful efforts to support people living in the Groves.

Among many extra jobs he does to make people’s lives better, Mr Fowler has helped fix the shopping buggies of elderly people, to help tune in televisions and spend time talking with more vulnerable residents.

Stephanie Brodie, of the Groves Residents Association, said: “Martin is our estate care taker, he is polite and always happy in his general duties. He always puts more in than expected and takes his job seriously and has much pride in his work.

“He is more than willing to help residents and often uses his own break time to do so.

“He mends and repairs broken things so residents don’t have to throw them away.

“He also offers a listening ear to residents who have problems and often those who are house or flat-bound.

“Martin always attends all resident association meetings, offers advice at them and supports the committee.”

She said examples of Mr Fowler going the extra mile included making drain covers around the estate to stop leaves from going in them and doing other jobs people do not want to do, including cleaning out drains.

Mr Fowler, of Dringhouses, said: “I’m humbled to be nominated. I’m very fortunate that I work for City of York Council and I do a job which is very flexible. I think I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of other people who are a joy to work with and are extremely helpful to me.

“I love helping people, it makes my job all worthwhile.”

He thanked colleagues including Street Scene in York and the estate manager in the Groves area, Nikki Simpson.

The Community Pride Awards, which will have a York 800 theme this year, are run in partnership with City of York Council and sponsored by Benenden Healthcare.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in October.

The awards celebrate unsung heroes who work to make the community a better place and will culminate in a ceremony at the racecourse in October.