Pride of Britain: South West unsung heroes honoured at star-studded event

Unsung heroes from the South West - and across the country - have been celebrated at this year's Pride of Britain Awards.

Now in their 25th year, organisers of the star-studded event say: "The real stars are the winners, who come from all walks of life, are of all ages, and from all over the country.

"They say they are ordinary people, but their acts are truly extraordinary."

Representing the South West is the best friend of a woman who lost her life to domestic abuse, and a mum who swam nearly half a kilometre in icy water to save a 10-year-old boy.

Outstanding bravery

To Cornwall, and a mum from the Duchy has won the award for Outstanding Bravery - after swimming 400m in icy winter seas to save a 10-year-old boy and a man after they were dragged out by powerful currents.

It happened in January 2023, when Emily Greenwood was walking on the back with her son.

She heard screams in the area, and discovered that a boy had found himself overwhelmed by a powerful rip current, having being playing on a bodyboard in the shallows.

The man with him was also swept away.

Emily, who is 52, managed to push her son, who uses a wheelchair, to safety before running to the water’s edge at Holywell Bay in Cornwall, where she lives.

She shouted out to the pair, telling them to swim across the current, but found herself jumping into the surf and swam out to reach them, as they gradually became weaker.

She said: “I was shouting at them, ‘swim across’ but it wasn’t working and I realised I had to go in. It was freezing cold and I soon realised I was going to have to swim out to them so I just took a deep breath and went. The man was hyperventilating but the boy was able to talk.

“I just reassured them and told them what we needed to do to get to safety.” The mum of three then began the back-breaking task of towing them to shore across the rip current, traversing 400 metres in the rough winter water.

“As soon as the boy could stand he ran for his mum but the man totally crumpled and went under the waves, that’s when I was really scared, but I managed to hold him out of the water and, with help, get him on to the beach.” Exhausted by her efforts, she then ran to grab her son’s blanket to warm the man up before he was taken to hospital by helicopter.

Emily is a member of Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club but not a trained lifeguard.

She added: “It’s amazing to think that I’ve saved somebody’s life but really I just thought that I needed to help. I think most people would in that situation.

“So much could have gone wrong. I was very, very lucky. We all were. It could have ended very differently. “I feel honoured to have won a Pride of Britain award when there are so many people out there doing brave things.”

Special recognition

The mum and best friend of a woman who was killed by her husband are taking home the 'Special Recognition' prize at this year's Pride of Britain Awards.

Robert Brown pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility following the horror in 2010, which happened within earshot of her young children - who were nine and ten years old at the time of the incident.

He was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

In the midst of her grief, Diana, who took on the care of her grandchildren, joined her daughter’s best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton in setting up the Joanna Simpson Foundation in 2014.

Its aim was to help raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence and transform the care, support and protection of children.

Hetti, 57, from Swindon, said: “Jo was a ray of sunshine – she was kind, warm, fun and, above all, an incredible mother. She was always driven to do the right thing, which has inspired both Di and me.

“We set up the Joanna Simpson Foundation because, having seen the law fail to protect two deeply traumatised children, we couldn’t let that happen again. We also wanted to raise awareness of domestic abuse. So often people don’t know it is happening to those they love.”

They later successfully campaigned to block Joanna's husband's automatic release from prison after he completed half of his sentence.

However, they've now been told informed that he is up for parole again.

Hetti added: “Although Robert Brown has been categorised as dangerous, they may still release him. We know he is a massive danger to women and girls. We can’t sit back and do nothing.

“So much has happened over the last 14 years but winning a Pride of Britain award has to be one of the most overwhelming and positive things. It’s amazing.”

Diana said: “I will continue to fight until my dying days to keep children safe and to eliminate domestic abuse.”

Both were appointed CBEs in the New Year Honours List 2024 in recognition of their work.

'The very best of us'

The King and Prime Minister have led tributes to the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Award winners, saying they represent the "very best of us".

King Charles wrote: "On this 25th anniversary of the Pride of Britain Awards, I send my warmest admiration to all of this year's winners.

"You each represent the very best in our society."

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "For a quarter of a century, the Pride of Britain awards have celebrated the people who embody everything that is great about Britain.

"These are people from all walks of life, but they all have one thing in common. They're heroes.

"They may not be the cape-wearing superheroes we normally think of - in fact, they look just like the rest of us.

"But they do have something that makes them very special indeed. Bravery, determination, generosity, empathy and huge spirit.

"They have the power to touch our hearts, to make us hopeful, to make us proud.

"They're a testament to the incredible things people can achieve even in the face of hardship."

The Pride of Britain has been collaborating with The King's Trust, a charity that targets people aged 11 to 30 and helps them with life skills and access to work opportunities, since 2001.

The King first attended the Pride of Britain awards ceremony in 2012, where he paid tribute to the achievements of Team GB at the Olympics and presented long-distance runner Sir Mo Farah with an award.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the awards.

Those previously honoured include Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates, Amnesty International founder Peter Benenson, the Grenfell Community and firefighters, and Professor Sarah Gilbert and her team in Oxford for their work developing the Covid-19 vaccines.