Nazan Fennell, a bereaved mother from Birmingham, has been given the highest honour in the RoSPA Guardian Angel Awards scheme which recognises individuals who go “above and beyond to improve the safety of others”.
Nazan Fennell’s 13-year-old daughter, Hope, was was knocked off her bicycle and killed by an HGV in 2011. In the moments leading up to the collision, the driver of the HGV had been exchanging text messages and was subsequently convicted of dangerous driving.
Since losing her daughter, Nazan has become a passionate road safety campaigner. Her campaign, Live In Hope, seeks to make a difference locally and nationally with aims including restricting access for HGVs on ‘unsuitable roads’ and increasing the number of safer cycle routes.
Earlier this year, Nazan also helped RoSPA to deliver Family Safety Week, the theme of which was safer cycling.
Nazan received her ‘Archangel’ award from Lord Jordan of Bournville CBE, former president of RoSPA, and the charity’s chief executive Tom Mullarkey, during a ceremony in Birmingham.
Tom Mullarkey said: “Nazan is truly a hero in the accident prevention field, dedicating all of her time to ensure that as many lives as possible remain unchanged by the devastation accidents can cause.
“Nazan’s love for her daughter, and caring for the people of Birmingham, shines through in her tireless efforts to ensure that Hope did not die in vain.
“She shares RoSPA’s vision of making Britain’s roads safe for all users, and it is through people like Nazan that we can make a real difference.”
Further Guardian Angel Awards presentations will take place in Glasgow in September, while other winners, who are unable to attend a ceremony, will receive their awards through the post. Guardian Angel Awards presentations are taking place as part of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2015.
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