Agnes Nesbitt, an 88-year-old grandmother, celebrated her achievements aboard Britannia, the flagship liner of a cruise company, with a rum punch last month. As they passed Nevis, the island where she grew up, Agnes reminisced about her childhood home. Speaking to The Mirror, she expressed the deep emotions triggered by returning to her roots, surrounded by her family. Agnes, who migrated from Nevis to the UK in 1959 as part of the Windrush generation, dedicated her life to supporting parents of stillborn babies. She recounted her personal tragedy of losing her son, John, to stillbirth, which inspired her to establish the Born Whilst Sleeping program at Leicester Royal Infirmary in 1973.
During a cruise to various destinations, including St. Maarten, Antigua, and Aruba, Agnes was accompanied by Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, a Special Recognition Award winner. Hetti, who co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation to aid children affected by domestic abuse and homicide, cherished the opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow award recipients on the cruise. The journey also featured Aiyla Mota, a six-year-old Child of Courage awardee, who captured hearts with her resilience despite facing amputations of both legs and fingers due to sepsis.
Manny Singh Kang, an avid charity fundraiser, and Emily Greenwood, a recipient of an Outstanding Bravery Award, were among the remarkable individuals who joined the cruise. Manny shared his joy at experiencing the golden sands of Grand Turk, while Emily cherished the diverse landscapes and culinary delights offered during the voyage. Their stories, along with those of other winners, exemplified the spirit of unity and camaraderie fostered by the Pride of Britain Awards. The 2024 winners were generously gifted a cruise of their choice by sponsors P&O Cruises in celebration of the awards’ 25th anniversary.