‘Mother hen’ gets award from police

Joanna Gledhill, 19, was given the honour at the West Yorkshire Police Explorers Awards 2014 for being a “team player” and “the mother hen of the group”.

Former Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School pupil Joanna, who is going to Lancaster University in September to study sports therapy, said: “Being named Calderdale Explorer of the Year was quite special because when we were all waiting for the winner to be announced everyone kept saying it was me and I wasn’t expecting it. The speech they read out was really nice and said I was a team player and a ‘mother hen’ in the group and things like that.”

Joanna, who received a trophy as part of her award, said she was considering joining the police in the future.

A police spokesperson said: “When Joanna isn’t volunteering for the Young Explorer Programme she works as a lifeguard where her dedication, commitment and responsibility is also displayed.

“She is now considered a local hero as many people look up to her and celebrate Joanna’s achievements.”

The programme saw teenagers spend one evening a week at their local police station learning about different aspects of the force; including counter terrorism, crime scene investigation and custody services.

At the awards ceremony, which was held West Yorkshire Police Operational Support Services site at Carr Gate in Wakefield, all the explorers received certificates.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said: “I congratulate each and every young explorer who has received a certificate of achievement which demonstrates how well they have worked on the programme.”