Students at Oaklands College nominated in search for unsung heroes (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans Oaklands College students nominated for a Community Gold Award

2:51pm Monday 17th May 2010 in News By Manisha Mistry

A BUDDING team of construction students at Oaklands College who used their skills to pick up the pieces for an elderly couple who were conned by a rogue builder have been nominated for Community Gold Award.

Pensioner John Turner and his wife Kathleen put their trust in a builder, who promised to put up new front garden wall, but was never to be seen again after pocketing £800 from the couple.

After contacting Trading Standards 80-year-old Mr Turner, of Ladies Grove, had a surprise phone call from Oaklands College offering their support.

A group of students came re-build the wall and clean up the mess left by the untraceable builder.

Mr Turner has nominated every student who helped for a Community Gold Award – a scheme which is run by the Review in conjunction with solicitors Debenhams Ottaway to reward unsung heroes across the district.

He said: “The boys were fantastic. They were young and would muck about here and there but they were focused and did a great job – I couldn't have asked for anything more.

“I can't praise them enough and I think they definitely deserve to be nominated.

“They are out future and most young people just don't get the recognition they deserve. On top of what they did for us they were studying but they were still finding the time to do a clean and professional job.”

The father-of-two said he thought things had taken a turn for the worse when he was conned of £800 but after receiving the help from the St Albans college students and their teacher Andy Rosser it has made him realise “that people do care”.

Do you know an individual, business or charity who makes a difference in the community? Why not nominate them for a Community Gold Award.

You can enter by emailing your hero’s name and any relevant contact details to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk catchlining your email hero.

You can also enter by text or by phone.

Send your text to 80360. Start your text with the word hero, leave a space and then enter the name and contact details of your unsung hero. Please also include your name and a contact number so we can get in touch with you in the event we are unable to contact your nominated person.

To nominate by phone, simply call 09012 210048 and leave the details of your unsung hero when prompted.

Calls cost no more than 25p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Telephone and text voting lines open 08/02/2010 and close 15/12/2010 at 23:59PM. For full terms visit http://www.newsquest.co.uk/terms. Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group.