Cranford Review / March_2018

On
Wednesday March 29th,
2017, Tejinder Purewal
then in year 10, arrived late to
school with a rather unusual excuse.
He claimed to have been helping an
elderly gentleman who had collapsed
near the Munchies restaurant on the
Bath Road. His punctuality is not
exactly perfect so questions were
asked and details confirming his story
emerged later that day after contact
from the local police and ambulance
services and a few weeks afterwards
from a local family.
Tejinder, supported by another
Cranford student, administered CPR
to a gentleman who had suffered a
heart attack. Tejinder stayed with
Mr Antonio
Fernandez for 30 minutes until the
ambulance arrived and amazed
witnesses (including the staff of a
neighbouring pharmacy) with his
determination and expertise.
Having practised his first aid skills at
school, as well as with the local army
cadets with whom he trains, Tejinder
put his knowledge and training into
powerful effect and there is no doubt
he played a crucial role in saving the
life of a member of our community.
Tejinder has already been recognised
with a national paramedic award
but today we honour him with a new
award donated by Mr Fernandez and
his family – ‘The Pride of Cranford’
Award.
Mr Fernandez recently turned 80 and
I am absolutely delighted to welcome
him and his family here tonight to
celebrate Tejinder’s remarkable
achievement with us. Mr Fernandez
will present Tejinder with an
individual medal and I would also like
to invite up Ms Priscilla Ledlie, our
own Pastoral Manager for year 13 and
medical officer, who has personally
been involved with Tejinder’s first aid
training both in school and as part
of the 192 Heston Detachment of the
army cadet force, to present him with
the inaugural ‘Pride of Cranford’
shield which will go on prominent
display in the school and become, at
the request of Mr Fernandez and his
family, a new award.
Citation for the award by Rob
Ind (Head of School)
The
Rod Lewis
Award has
been generously donated by his wife
and longstanding member of the
Academy Trust, Jenny Lewis and their
daughter Nicole, a former student at
Cranford, in memory of Rod and his
many years’ service as a Governor.
Rod passed away after a long illness
in February 2010.
This award has been created
to recognise either a group or
individual adult or student, who has
made an exceptional contribution,
or achieved something exceptional
which has added to the success of the
school, its pupils and/or the whole
school community.
From talking to people about Rod, I
think one of the things they always
remember is how incredibly positive
he was about students and their
achievements, about staff and the
school and in life in general. When
perhaps other people would have
given up and isolated themselves from
the world, Rod was still
wanting to stay involved,
coming into school and sharing his
wisdom and wit with the school and
the whole community.
So the winner of today’s award is
entirely appropriate. She is also
someone who is incredibly positive,
who never gives up on young people
and who, even in her busy day-to-day
life always finds time for everyone.
Dinnie Heroe has now been working
at Cranford for four years overseeing
our Three Bridges Twilight School
and has worked tirelessly to develop
the Three Bridges and nurture the
staff and students within it. She never
gives up on the young people there
and will fight for them to have equal
opportunity and the chance to make
a fresh start, often in challenging
circumstances. She works hard to
broker positive relationships with the
families of children at Three Bridges
to ensure they provide appropriate
support at home.
Dinnie is also very caring and
supportive towards the staff at Three
Bridges and across the school,
developing their confidence, abilities
and spotting opportunities for growth.
She is very diligent and dedicated
and will always go the extra mile for
anyone.
Recently Dinnie has ably taken on
the role of Acting SENCo at Berkeley
and much like with everything else
she doesn’t blow her own trumpet
but gets the job done providing truly
outstanding support for staff and
families and being a champion for
children. She is a worthy recipient of
the Rod Lewis Award and I would like
to now invite Jenny Lewis onstage to
present Dinnie with her award which
comes along with £100 to support a
project of her choice.
Citation for the award by Rob Ind
(Head of School)
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