Annual award honours life of much-loved carer

Kerry Giles-Brown came up with the idea for the award after she received her terminal diagnosis this year

A woman who was a care worker for more than 30 years has had an award posthumously named in her honour.

Kerry Giles-Brown, from Littleport, Cambridgeshire, died aged 52 in September. She worked for Caring Together Charity, which supports unpaid family carers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk.

When Ms Giles-Brown was diagnosed this year with a terminal illness she planned with colleagues to leave a legacy in the shape of the annual Kerry Care Award.

Caring Together Charity chief executive Miriam Martin said: “Kerry was quite an extraordinary woman.

"She was loud, full of energy and fun, just lifting the room as soon as she walked in. She was one of the most amazing, driven and determined people I have ever met."

The first award was won by Belinda Sabine, who works across the Huntingdonshire district.

Lisa Downs, head of care at Caring Together Charity, said: “At a time when the incredible work of professional care staff often goes unnoticed and undervalued, these awards show just how amazing people working in care are."

Belinda Sabine, the inaugural winner of the Kerry Care Award, flanked by Ms Giles-Brown's daughter Megan and her husband Steve

Ms Martin said: “When I first heard about Kerry’s diagnosis and prognosis, we spoke about what she would like her legacy to be as part of Caring Together.

"We agreed that an annual Kerry Care Award would be perfect and something that her family could also be involved in.

"Not for one moment did either of us think she wouldn't be here to present the first award. She was so excited about it.

"We are mourning the loss of a friend and colleague but there is real comfort in the inspiration she was to us all."

Peter Deadman said Ms Giles-Brown would "do anything to help"

Peter Deadman, 84, cares for his bed-ridden wife at home in Ely and uses Caring Together Charity.

"You meet very few people like Kerry in this world," he said.

"She was just so nice – one in a million. Nothing was too much trouble for her... she would help out even if it wasn't part of her job.

"It is reassuring to have her memory live on with this new award. It's what she wanted."