Many, many congratulations to Spelthorne Council’s Trevor Baker, who was a finalist in the Council Worker of the Year Award 2008 and who was only narrowly beaten by Joyce Roberts, a Care Home Assistant from Flintshire County Council.
Entered in the ‘Lifetime Service’ category in a competition run by the Local Government Channel, in association with the Local Government Association, Trevor’s exceptional service over nearly 40 years was recognised at a gala dinner in Bournemouth.
Trevor is Senior Committee Manager with the Council and has prepared agendas and minutes for thousands of meetings. Despite being completely blind, as a result of diabetes, his dedication and professionalism have moved colleagues and contacts outside the Council, alike and the Council is particularly pleased that he made it through to the last six in his category.
Helped by a support worker, Gillian Hobbs, and the fourth in a long line of loyal guide dogs, Trevor uses specially adapted equipment to do his job.
His attention to detail is respected throughout the organisation as is his ability to rise above adversity and deal with the complexities of day to day life. He has a long and difficult journey to work every day, including several changes of train, and he also faces doing the journey in reverse sometimes after meetings that go on long into the night.
Trevor has not worked all the years he has without some trials and tribulations including when he fell down an open liftshaft and being threatened by an allotment holder armed with a shotgun.
Trevor says: “I want to thank all those who voted for me and it was a privilege to be one of the splendid finalists in the Lifetime Service category. Any one of us would have been a worthy winner and I congratulate Joyce Roberts on her success”.
Chief Executive Roberto Tambini said: “It has been a privilege to work with Trevor and I am delighted that his indomitable spirit and true grit and professionalism has been recognised. I would like to thank all those who voted for him and I hope he continues to provide his excellent services to the staff and residents of Spelthorne for many years to come.”
