“The Rotary Club of Stratford held its first Children of Courage Awards last week to recognise young people in the area who have displayed outstanding courage to overcome exceptional difficulties or hardships, and yet still manage to contribute so much to others.
The high schools in the area were each asked to nominate a pupil who in their opinion had shown outstanding courage in a difficult situation.
These young people were then invited to an awards ceremony luncheon at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel with a parent or teacher as support, and a representative of each school who would present why they had selected their student for the award.
David Moorcroft OBE was one of the special guests at the ceremony and gave a talk on courage through adversity.
The club’s president, Richard Williams, then invited Jo Bradley from Welcombe Hills School to say why she had nominated A’Lyse McGeever. Jo told the club “A’Lyse suffers from health issues and seizures, and often struggles to attend school because she is recovering, but she is always smiling and pupils and staff at the school describe her as the happiest and most cheerful person.”
A’Lyse was doubly thrilled as to ensure she had sufficient rest and didn’t have to travel too far, the Double Tree Hilton Hotel gave her and her mother an additional gift of a four-poster room for the night.”

Congratulations to A’Lyse! We are all very proud.