Tales of everyday heroism tell the true story

When Eoin Hennessy, a meter fitter with Balfour Beatty for Bord Gais Networks, visited the home of an elderly couple to fit their meter, he was appalled by the conditions they were living in. Despite both suffering various ailments, the couple had escaped the notice of the health and support services and were barely surviving. Hennessy came back in his own time, having personally secured donations of materials from local businesses, and rebuilt their home. He put them in touch with the local support services, getting them the help they needed.

This is just one of the amazing stories that we celebrated at last week’s Utility Week Stars Awards. Judging the entries for these awards, and presenting them on Friday, has been a highlight of our work for the whole Utility Week team. We launched the awards because we believe the negative spin and political barracking over utilities leaves those on the front line too often forgotten, their hard work and commitment overshadowed, and the pride they take in public service uncelebrated.

We were simply overwhelmed by the response. The stories came flooding in – and we saw that there are many different types of heroism. The story of Eoin Hennessy will stay with everyone who heard it, as will that of Dave Owen and Clayton Pearce of Morrison Utility Services, who rescued disabled children from a burning bus when travelling for a work call. No less heroic is Zoe Barron, customer relationship manager for Yorkshire Water and Loop customer management, who stepped up when a third party billing agent went bust, working tirelessly to ensure her customers got their money back. Or the Oxford Calor Centre team, who waded through floods in difficult and dangerous conditions to ensure their customers could heat their homes and cook their food.

You can see all the winners at www.utilityweekstars.co.uk

You don’t see that on the front pages; or hear questions about it at select committee hearings; or have it investigated, campaigned against or regulated. But it goes on quietly every day, through floods, storms and more. And we think that’s something worth celebrating.