Meet the two women in their 70s and 80s who continue to help older people in Northamptonshire village

A duo who have continued to make sure the older people in their village are well looked after during the pandemic have won a Rose of Northamptonshire award.

Sue Greatorex and Barbara Piggins have been running an unofficial ‘help the aged’ support group in Boughton for more than 20 years.

Despite Barbara being in her eighties and Sue being in her seventies, the pair continued to help out other elderly residents during the pandemic.

Both women have been shielding during the coronavirus restrictions, but have still managed to keep checking in on others by phoning around those who they know need support and companionship.

Sue said: “Barbara has been doing it for 25 years and I have been doing it for 20. We are the older people now, but we are still keeping an eye on other older people.

“It all started by Barbara ringing people years ago and she wanted to take a step back after five years, so we have been doing it together ever since.

“We have a list of people in each of our heads and we just keep a check on them.

“We have got to know loads of people in the village over the years as we’ve been calling them and helping them with any support they need.

“We can link them up with Age UK if needed and we have done things like going to Quinton House School for a concert for older people in the past.”

Due to their knowledge of the village and those in need within the community, Sue and Barbara were the perfect people to turn to when the pandemic hit and the parish council decided to set up a more official help scheme for older people.

The pair met the volunteer running the new group just before the first lockdown was introduced last year and between them they managed to get the support group up and running within 48 hours.

Sue added: “We knew who all the older people were so we got a list together with a list of younger people who said they would volunteer.

“Barbara and I both took on the responsibility of calling the older people and then if they needed anything we would ring Charlotte from the group, who is a lot younger than us and was able to help them.

“We both also go on walks around the village everyday and wave through windows for anyone who might be lonely.

“It has been more difficult during lockdown because we can’t hug or anything, but we can drop stuff on doorways if needed.”

Now the selfless pair have been recognised for their dedication to their community in the form of the Rose of Northamptonshire award, launched by Northamptonshire County Council, the High Sherriff’s office and the Lord Lieutenant to thank those who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

But when Sue was first told about the award over the phone, she thought it was a joke.

“We didn’t know we had been nominated and we don’t shout about what we are doing,” Sue continued.

“It is quite nice to get a pat on the back sometimes and it felt nice to be recognised for doing something right.

“I’m used to being busy and it drives me nuts being in the house all the time. As soon as I know someone is in trouble I like to be useful.

“People say they look forward to us ringing and that they don’t know what they would do without us, so it’s nice that we are doing something worthwhile and that people appreciate it, although that isn’t what we do it for.”

Sue and Barbara were just one nomination of around 300 submitted for the Rose of Northamptonshire awards.

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