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Dad of the Year 2009: the winners
Since launching our Dad of the Year competition we have been inundated with entries from sons and daughters eager to tell us how special their fathers are. Features writer Ann Molyneux-Jackson spoke to our worthy winner and finalists.
Since launching our Dad of the Year competition we have been inundated with entries from sons and daughters eager to tell us how special their fathers are. Features writer Ann Molyneux-Jackson spoke to our worthy winner and finalists.First place: Trevor Hill
TREVOR Hill was on his way to Cornwall for a well-earned holiday after a difficult few months, when he heard that he had won The Evening Telegraph's Dad of the Year competition for 2009.
Touched that his eldest daughter, Louise, had nominated him, he abandoned his trip 100 miles into the journey, turned his car round and headed back to the city.
Trevor is willing to do anything for his family, as he showed just four months ago when he donated one of his kidneys to his wife, Aileen.
This selfless deed has transformed the lives not only of Aileen, but also of Louise, who has always had a close relationship with her dad.
"He's not only enhanced her quality of life, but also mine, because I have got my mum back," she said.
Prizes:
Our Dad of the Year Trevor Hill wins a stunning, light and compact Sony DCR-SX30E camcorder from John Lewis – perfect for capturing special family moments – a Dude gift box from Lush, a 25 voucher for professional hair- dressers Michael John, a funky wine holder from Silver Fox in the Westgate Arcade, a Liz Earle Essentials pampering set from John Lewis, a giant cookie from Millies Cookies and our winning Dad will be able to get his car cleaned by eco- friendly Encore Performance in Queensgate.
Our two lucky runners-up will each take home a Dude gift box from Lush so they can indulge in a spot of pampering this summer.
Louise of Croyland Road, Walton, Peterborough, told us how Trevor stepped in to save the day after her mum, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease, where her kidneys fill with cysts and are unable to function properly, became seriously ill.
"We were told that her kidney function had fallen to 15 per cent, and that she would have to go on dialysis while she waited for a kidney transplant," Louise told us.
"The reason that my dad is so amazing is that without a moment's hesitation and in a purely selfless act he offered his own kidney to my mum.
"He wouldn't even consider the option that I might be able to donate as he felt that I had my whole life ahead of me to live."
The operation took place on February 4, this year, and Trevor's gift was an amazing birthday present for Louise, who also turned 26 that day.
"Throughout the whole process, I don't think he ever thought about himself, he went into surgery first and when he came round he first asked me about my mum, who was still in theatre, and then asked me how I was," said Louise.
"I'm really proud of my dad, he has been so brave throughout it all and faced his fear of needles head on.
"Mum doesn't have dialysis and her energy and strength is returning. It has completely changed her life."
"I have no idea how to begin to thank him or express what I feel towards him so I thought nominating him for Dad of the Year might be a good start."
Trevor, who works as a rail operations specialist for Network Rail and is also dad to 24-year-old Alison, is clearly thrilled to have won the competition.
"I was quite excited, honoured and a bit humble," he said.
"It's such a nice thing for Louise to do. It's nice to receive some recognition from your children.
"It was a very family-based decision," said the 47-year-old, who lives with Aileen in Fulbridge Road, Peterborough.
"It enhances all of our lives, and when you can give something like that to someone in your family, everyone benefits."
He added: "Louise and I have always got on very well and I think she has always felt that she can discuss any concerns she has with me. I think you should give your children the tools to make their own decisions and when they do you just have to be there to support them when they need you."
Aileen, who is now on the road to recovery, added: "Trevor has a very close relationship with Louise. He's a very hands-on father. He's a friend to her as much as anything. It's a lovely relationship that they have."Second place: Steve Thorpe
ASHLEY Thorpe loves spending time with his dad Steve. The pair go to watch Peterborough United matches together and compete against each other playing games on his Playstation.
But the 12-year-old schoolboy is also full of admiration for his 41-year-old dad, who has taken second place in our competition, because of the work he does with the Free Kicks Foundation charity, taking ill and deserving children to be mascots at football games.
Steve founded the charity with Lee Porter, the general manager at Posh, three years ago and it has been named as one of the football club's charities of the year.
Ashley decided to enter his father for our Dad of the Year competition to show him how much he means to him.
"He does such good work with these children," said Ashley.
"He makes their dreams come true."
He added: "My dad spends hours on the computer e-mailing people and organising different events and coming up with ideas to raise money.
"I have helped my dad do some of the Kicks, the days out for the children, by taking photos so they can be put on the website.
"I see how happy the kids faces are and my dad says that all the hard work is worth it when he sees how excited the kids are before being a mascot and seeing them afterwards and them telling him how great the day has been."
He added: "He's a great dad and when he's not doing his charity work he plays with me on the PlayStation2 game Fifa 09.
"I just want him to be rewarded for what he does and I want him to know that I love him loads and how great I think he is and how proud of him I am for all that he does to help other kids have a fantastic day out at football matches."
Steve, who lives with his family in Gorse Green, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, said: "I'm really pleased, I didn't know anything about this and I'm chuffed.
"Ashley was away on a school trip in France for Father's Day so it was a nice surprise to hear that he had done this."Third place: Neil Search
GETTING up in the middle of the night to comfort three-month-old Luke is never too much trouble for doting dad Neil Search. He changes dirty nappies without complaint, and after a busy day at work he is never too tired to play with his son.
Luke was a much-longed for baby for Neil and his wife, Sarah. He was conceived after five years of fertitility problems and their third cycle of IVF, just as their savings were almost spent and they were worrying about how they could ever afford to have any more treatment.
Sarah has been so impressed by her husband's efforts since he became a father that she decided to enter him for Dad of the Year. The poem she wrote on Luke's behalf earned her husband third place in the competition.
"I think my dad's great because he's new to the job, he's only done it for 12 weeks,
"I think he's fab, even though he won't stop kissing my cheeks,
"When he comes home from work we go for a walk with the dog and mum,
"He always gives me hugs and plays and doesn't just sit on his bum,
"He tells me I'm special because I'm a test tube baby,
"He loves me so much, that's a definite, not a maybe,
"My dad is wonderful, he is the best,
"So please pick him and forget the rest."
Sarah told us how 49-year-old Neil was an "absolute angel" helping with her injections when she they were in the middle of IVF treatment and during her pregnancy, when she had terrible morning sickness.
But according to his wife, the birth of Luke has completely changed his life.
"It's melted him," said 33-year-old Sarah.
"He's an adorable baby, but at the start I was struggling and we were having to syringe feed him breast milk.
"Neil has always got up with him in the night, changed his nappies and he used to get home from work and disappear for hours round Ferry Meadows with our dog, Maisie, the baby and the pram so I could go and get some sleep. He used to completely take him off my hands so I could recharge my batteries.
"He's been getting up in the night all along and keeping me company."
Sarah, who lives with her husband and son in Meadow Walk, Yaxley, near Peterborough, added: "He does so much for me and this is just my way of telling him that he's a great dad."
Neil, a quality co-ordinator at Clark Drain, in Yaxley, was shocked to hear he was a finalist, but soon forgave Sarah for going behind his back to enter the competition.
"This little fellow was years in the making, and he's the absolute world to me," he said.
"You wouldn't believe how much we wanted a child.
"He just makes my life complete.
"When I've had a bad day at work it melts away when I'm looking at him and he gives me his little smile."
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