My RHA
Rick's a Good Neighbour
26th June 2018 | posted in News
A Hereford man who ensured his friend’s dying days were as comfortable as possible has won Railway Housing Association's national good neighbour of the year award.
Rick Yardley was the overwhelming winner of the 2018 award.
The 67-year-old, who lives in the Association’s Great Western Court sheltered housing scheme in Hereford, was nominated by several of his neighbours
They included Lillian Davies, who said: “Rick’s friend Hiram fought a long battle with cancer and rather than die in a hospice he wanted to be in his own home, so Rick looked after his daily needs, doing his shopping and being the liaison between the medical and Macmillan nursing staff.
“This enabled Hiram to fulfil his wish of spending his last few months with his friends in his own home.”
As well as being there for Hiram, Rick uses his expertise as a former council gardener to help the Great Western Court gardening club to prepare seedlings and plants for the communal gardens.
He also helps to post mail for neighbours who are unable to get to the post box and even sought out a special kind of breakfast cereal for a resident who was struggling to locate it.
Marion Jones, who also nominated Rick, said: “During the bad weather earlier in 2018 many of the residents were unable to get out so Rick did the shopping for everyone. At one point he carried 22 pints of milk back; he is wonderful.”
This year’s good neighbour was once again chosen by Railway Housing Association’s residents, through its Resident Forum and Focus Groups.
Rick received a trophy and a cheque for £50 at the Association’s recent residents’ conference in York. This year’s good neighbour of the year competition was sponsored by Brabners, who are solicitors for the Association.
Rick said: “The award came as complete surprise to me and I feel a little embarrassed as I don’t think what I do is anything special.
“I was brought up to help people so that’s just me, but it is lovely to win the award, especially when the people who nominated me were my friends and neighbours; that makes it even nicer.”
Anne Rowlands, Railway Housing Association Chief Executive, said: “Each year, we never cease to be amazed by the lengths our residents go to help others, and Rick is a perfect example of this.
“Helping a dying friend and walking through snow to ensure his neighbours had what they needed is amazing, and it’s clear he is a very deserving winner.”
