Barbara White, the founder of Nottingham-based charity When You Wish Upon A Star, has been acknowledged as part of the tram network’s birthday celebrations.

Barbara has had a tram named in her honour after being chosen as the first annual NET Community Hero – an award which is planned to mark the work of a local community stalwart. Barbara’s name will now be displayed on tram number 222 for the next 12 months.

The naming ceremony for the new NET Community Hero Tram was held as part of a day of activities to mark the tram network’s 12th birthday on Wednesday, 9 March 2016.

Jamie Swift, NET’s Head of Marketing explained: “We decided we would keep one of our trams so we could mark the work of a true community hero each year. It will be an annual event timed to coincide with the network’s birthday and we’ll choose a person who we think really deserves the honour.

“We’re delighted to name the first one after someone as deserving as Barbara, whose amazing charity work has benefitted many local youngsters over the years.”

Barbara set up When You Wish Upon A Star in 1990 to help grant the wishes of children with life threatening illness. The charity has since helped grant over 16,500 wishes across the UK.

She was made an OBE in 2006 and her tram honour comes after winning the Lifetime Achievement award at the Nottingham Post’s Heroes Awards last year.

Councillor Jane Urquhart of Nottingham City Council said, “For twenty five years Barbara’s dedication and willingness to help others has made a huge difference to the lives of so many children and their families. We’re really pleased that her work will be recognised in this way and that the first annual NET special award tram will be named in her honour.”

 

In the photo from left to right: The Lord Mayor of Nottingham Cllr Jackie Morris, Darren Smith (NET) and Barbara White