To mark International Women’s Day today, DevonLive and The Herald have compiled a list of almost 70 of the most inspiring women in Devon.
Here they are in no particular order, but we would love to hear who else you think should be celebrated today.
Alison Hernandez
The elected police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly says her passion is championing the underdog, and that comes from being a woman who has climbed the rungs of the ladder quickly and is not afraid to say what she thinks.
She has even admitted to liking American hip-hop group N.W.A who are famous for their song f*ck Da Police, and says when she is not working her interests include watching Netflix boxsets and sleeping.
Alison grew up in Torquay and attended Torquay Girls Grammar School before gaining a BSC Hons in sociology at Kingston University and post-graduate studies in marketing at Plymouth business school.
Her first role in public office was as an elected councillor in Torquay where she won a national award for her efforts to involve and engage constituents online.
Prior to her current role she predominantly worked in public service except for a four year stint running her own management consultancy.
She was elected as police and crime commissioner in May 2016, and one of her key goals has been to identify opportunities for people to get involved in policing.
Alison still lives in south Devon with her young daughter.
Benita Lambert
The brave mum-of-two is continuing to openly document her life-changing journey after being paralysed when she fell in riding accident 17 months ago.
On Valentine’s Day her unique and humorous honesty broached the subject she feared talked about the most – sex.
Benita, of Uffculme, suffered a “freak accident” on September 30, 2016, when she was riding her daughter’s pony and it reared up.
When she fell off she pulled the pony back and it fell on top of her causing the spine injury, a broken eye socket, multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung.
After being hospitalised for three months, including being sent to a spinal rehabilitation centre in Salisbury, Benita was reunited with her husband Matt and their two children Taylor, and Matthew, in January 2017 at their home in Willand.
She had been determined to get back on her feet again and last September, almost a year after her life-changing accident she was back in the saddle again.
She recently celebrated her 51st birthday and held a party which raised almost £3,500 for Devon Air Ambulance and the Conquest Centre at Taunton where she goes riding every week, as a thank you for all they have done to aid her recovery.
Benita will be sharing her story on This Morning shortly which will no doubt inspire more hilarious stories on her Facebook blog The Unnecessary Pessary, the continuation
Gina Awad
Showing the difference just one determined woman can make is Exeter’s Gina Awad.
The award-winning dementia champion has been recognised for her remarkable efforts to make life better for people with dementia at numerous local and national awards ceremonies.
They include being named Dementia Friends Champion of the Year in 2016.
Gina has worked tirelessly in the Exeter community and surrounding areas since she trained as a Dementia Friends Champion, resulting in the creation of the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and more than 1,000 new Dementia Friends.
She has visited schools, GP practices, law firms, cinemas, the regional hospital and Exeter city football club.
She has also managed to find the time to become a Open University graduate, and hosts her own radio Exeter show on Phonic FM called Living better with Dementia.
Ellie Waugh
Ellie Waugh is the chairman of Humanity Torbay in Torquay – which claimed to find accommodation for more than 678 homeless people in its five-and-a-half months.
Humanity Torbay gained official status as a registered charity in this time period, which its chairman and joint founder Ellie Waugh believes is the fastest of any charity in the South West.
Humanity Torbay has also found jobs and training programmes for 150 of its visitors, and sent four of them to university.
The charity receives no council funding, and so far uses just one building in Torquay for its drop-in centre and support work.
Chairman and joint founder Ellie said that they have a strong belief in providing support, as well as love, to the people who come in, and they would like to expand into Brixham and Paignton to hep more people across Torbay.
Heather Knight
Cricketer Heather Knight has gone from playing in her brother’s youth team to winning the world cup and now being awarded an OBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.
The former Plymstock School pupil, who captained the women’s side to victory in the global tournament this year, ends 2017 planning a trip to the Palace.
The 27-year-old received her OBE for services to cricket.
She said: “When I was a young girl playing cricket for my brother’s team in Plymouth I couldn’t have imagined that one day I would get an honour for captaining my country to a successful World Cup.
“It just shows what’s possible, and hopefully young girls pursuing sport today will see that it can take you places.”
Heather started playing at the age of nine or ten with Plymstock Cricket Club, said: “It would be amazing if this honour made one girl think that she fancies picking up a cricket bat.”
She captained England in the home World Cup this year, culminating in a dramatic final against India at Lord’s.
Heather said: “We’ve had the most amazing year – one that will live in our memory forever – and we just hope it can grow our game. The sell-out crowd at Lord’s shows there’s increased appetite and we want those fans to keep coming back.
“Hopefully we will remember 2017 as the year women’s cricket changed.”
Jessica Shears
The Devon-born curvy glamour model from Devon has a strong social media fan base with over one million Instagram followers, and is well-known for doing things her way and causing a stir.
The 24-year-old, who grew up in Kingsteignton, rose to fame after appearing on Love Island.
In a YouTube video she claimed she used to have body issues, including binge-eating and making herself sick.
In September 2017, she got engaged to fellow Love Island contestant Dom
On Valentine's Day this year, Jess and Dom Lever stripped down to white swimwear and got ‘married’ on live TV during Good Morning Britain.
Jessica is also a wannabe pro-wrestler.
Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo
Made In Chelsea's C has been hot property since being crowned Queen of the jungle and being hailed a ‘feminist hero’.
The former Torquay Girls' Grammar School completed an LLB law degree at the University of Westminster and wants to work in commercial law.
The 23-year-old has worked at a family run solicitors in Devon and law firm Family Law in Partnership in London.
Georgia also did two years of voluntary work and helped out at an old people's home and a charity shop.
Last year she won I’m A Celebrity, and was offered a job on This Morning as a result of her time in the jungle.
It has been reported Toff has the potential to earn £5m from being the show’s winner.
Regarding her future aspirations, other than TV presenting, Toff said she was keen to find good causes to champion such as environmental conservation and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Mary Quicke
Farming is notoriously a difficult industry to be in but Mary Quicke has kept her family farm in Newton St Cyres running bu establishing a cheese business.
Since it was launched in 1987, Mary has won more awards than she would ever have room for at Home Farm.
Mary, the 14th generation of the Quicke family, has a passion for her dairy herd and artisan cheesemaking methods which make her a leading authority on traditional cheese production.
In 2005, Mary received an MBE for her contribution to farming and cheesemaking.
She said: "When you love what you do it never feels like work, and cheesemaking at Home Farm is what makes me tick. I am inextricably linked to the land and our herd; and creating beautiful cheeses is my passion."
A truly extraordinary character, Mary’s talents stretch beyond traditional cheese and buttermaking. She is regular surfer, has a degree in English Literature, and each month, she shares her experiences in a monthly column.
Mary has been appointed to the board of FSA (Food Standards Agency) as well as the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board). She is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers, chairman of Devon County Agricultural Association and Founder Vice Chairman of the Maize Growers Association.
In 2013 Mary began work on the Academy of Cheese, which officially launched in 2017, aiming to promote cheese knowledge and provide career development, both within the industry and amongst the wider public.
Allysa Call
Exeter woman Allysa Call left Jeremy Kyle fans in tears when she bravely appeared on the show to speak of transition into a woman.
She appeared on the show in 2017, alongside her identical twin brother Matt, and became known as its ‘best looking’ transgender guest.
The hospital receptionist transitioned into a woman at the age 17.
When it comes to labels, Allysa says she thinks of herself as a woman rather than someone who is transgender.
She said: “I’m currently in a situation where I want to live my life and I don’t want people to know my past, but the other part of me wants to change peoples’ opinions but you really can’t change some people.
“I don’t think people should be judged and labels mean nothing. You shouldn’t judge people on their past or how they look. If people were judged on who they are as a person the world would be a much happier place.”
Marie Ash
After being pulled back from the brink of death following a serious suicide attempt, Marie Ash knew she would never try to end her life again.
The moment of epiphany for the mother-of-three came when she says that unconscious she had a near-death-experience which changed something within her when she awoke.
Eight years on from when Marie, from Braunton, had reached her lowest point, she has turned her life around to the extent that she is enjoying the best relationship she has ever had with her children, and is back with her husband.
The 55-year-old’s recovery inspired her to set up a self-harm and suicide prevention group in North Devon, which has since become Devon and Torbay Prevention Alliance.
Plymouth is full of high-flying women and every International Women's Day we celebrate them in an ever-expanding list.
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The women on this list might be charity workers, business leaders, scientists, artists, fundraisers or politicians, but they all have one thing in common - they are all inspiring and taking bold steps to create increasing gender equality.
Avril Bellinger
Avril is the founder of START, Students and Refugees Together, and chair of its trustees.
The charity works with refugees at the point they are granted leave to remain and beyond; averting homelessness and destitution, and supporting people to make choices for themselves.
She devotes huge amounts of time in a voluntary capacity to its running, co-supervising the managers, supervising international students, fundraising, washing up and cleaning the cooker at START's fortnightly Cultural Kitchen
Flight Lieutenant Kerry Bennett
Kerry is currently stationed at Brize Norton but grew up in Plympton, attending St Maurice Primary School and Ridgeway Secondary School.
She started her career in the RAF 13 years ago, and spent time flying for The Royal Squadron, which saw her regularly fly royalty, celebrities and politicians across the world.
During her time as a pilot, Kerry has flown through war zones and escorted members of the Royal family across the globe, and somehow found time to recently compete in the TV series Astronaut: Do You Have What It Takes? where she battled it out for the chance to become an astronaut.
Muriel Blackledge
Muriel, a former higher education worker, gave up her job to become a volunteer fundraiser for Macmillan because she wanted to give back to the charity she believes saved her life.
She felt she needed a new more relaxing and rewarding lifestyle after she broke her hip, which had been weakened due to the chemotherapy she received during her battle with breast cancer.
Muriel, who lives alone, is now giving her all to help others affected by cancer, having already raised more than £2,000 for the charity.
Carole Bowles
In 1977, Carole first opened her arms and door to a stream of unwanted animals who would otherwise have been put down as charities struggled to cope with the scale of the problem.
Carole recalled the day she saw dead kittens piled on top of one another in her early days volunteering, and couldn’t bear to see another animal given up on.
Working with a group of like-minded friends, Carole began her pioneering work to halt the needless destruction of animals through an ambitious spaying and neutering programme, while rehoming unwanted pets.
Within a decade, she had founded Woodside Animal Welfare Trust, a charity which has been instrumental in controlling the Westcountry’s unwanted pet population and rehoming tens of thousands of unwanted animals.
Alexis Bowater
Alexis, along with Clare Geraghty from Barclays Bank, was responsible for creating the first ever Plymouth Women in Business Networking group.
She's also regional partner of the Venus Awards which celebrate inspiring women in business.
Eleanor Browne
Eleanor Browne was enjoying a paragliding session in Exmoor three years ago when her landing took a terrifying turn. Her wing broke and sent her falling to Earth from 50 feet in the air.
Eleanor was rushed to Bristol Meads hospital where she stayed in an induced coma for three weeks. She had numerous broken bones and suffered serious injuries to her pelvis, spine and left leg.
As a way to thank Devon Air Ambulance, Southmead Hospital Charity’s intensive care unit, and Plymouth Neurological Rehab Unit, Eleanor defied her injuries last year by cycling across Devon to raise money for each.
Pam Buchan
Pam has volunteered as a trustee for the marine charity Sea Changers and mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation, helping young people from under-represented backgrounds to gain access to higher education.
More recently, she returned to university herself to complete a PhD researching how and why people act to improve the health of the marine environment and is standing as a Labour councillor for Honicknowle this year.
Hannah Burnett
This award-winning local florist has made flower arrangements for royalty and she’s now managed to set up a brand new tailored studio in Estover.
Hannah has provided flowers for Camilla, duch*ess of Cornwall, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Albert II, Prince of Monaco, Michael Ball and Alexandra Burke.
Chloe Causer
Five years ago, Chloe was made redundant from her job as a support worker for people with complex needs, which is when she became hit with debt – battling drug addiction and being on the brink of homelessness.
Chloe was put into contact with the Princess Trust by her housing association, Plymouth Community Homes.
She then received financial, housing and domestic abuse support from a financial confidence project and found a fresh start through a Prince’s Trust admin programme which built her skills and confidence so that Chloe could have the experience and knowledge to find work.
Lerryn Clare and Lucy Cox
Founders of Halto - an innovative halter neck strap cushion which is designed to alleviate the neck pain felt by millions of women when wearing halter neck swimwear.
Sisters Lucy and Lerryn, who graduated from Plymouth University, made their ambitious business pitch to investors on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den this year.
Babs Cole
Known across the city for throwing garden parties since 1998, she has spent her later years fundraising for various charities before finally retiring aged 93.
Her garden parties raised thousands of pounds for charity, and she also used to fundraise through dances since 1978, but had to give the activity up after a hip and knee replacement.
As if that wasn’t enough, generous Babs also collected more than £1,000 annually for various charities close to her heart.
Katie Congdon
Husband-and-wife Sam and Katie Congdon found love through their mutual attraction to ale and now own and run Vessel Beer Shop on Exeter Street.
Since they opened Vessel they have championed 40 different styles of beer, with 110 brands in store and up to 170 brand a month in total, from 60 breweries in the UK and abroad.
The fridges are split between pales, IPAs, darks and Belgian beers, with “the classics on tap”, including dark and strong brews.
Bethanie Cork
Bethanie became one of Plymouth’s successful business bosses after opening her first salon on Union Street at the age of 20.
Now she has just moved into a three-storey salon on the Barbican after outgrowing the previous one.
Queen B first opened in July 2015 offering hair and fake tan services, with just two staff members running the show.
Moving to the new premises on Looe Street, the Barbican, has created six jobs in the city and the salon is now offering a range of hair and beauty services including micro-blading, lashes and make-up.
Margaret Corvid
Margaret is an experienced Labour canvasser and is running for election this year as a councillor in Drake Ward.
As a former sex worker Margaret has spoken candidly about the profession in the past - highlighting the misrepresentation of the trade in the media and why criminalising it would be a mistake.
Sara Cox
Sara Cox is the first woman to take charge of a men's first team RFU rugby union fixture.
Sara, who became the first contracted full-time female referee within the Rugby Football Union's professional match official team in 2015, has already officiated at the Rio Olympic games.
Georgie Curtin
Georgie has owned and managed Cap'n Jaspers with her husband Adrian since 2001.
The café, at Sutton Harbour, is famous for its Jasperizer burgers, a legacy which Georgie has taken on and breathed new life into since the business was passed to her when her father, John Dudley, sadly passed away
Dr Lorna Dallas
Dr Dallas is a co-founder of Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) Plymouth.
Set up in 2014 the organisation aims to encourage women into jobs in science and manufacturing as well as digital and creative industries and medicine too.
Carlisha Dann
Carlisha was working in a nine-to-five admin job that she hated and found herself worrying if she had enough money to catch the bus to work.
After deciding makeup was her passion, she started by doing her friends’ makeup and then took the step to become a freelance artist.
Once she had built up her portfolio she got a job at a makeup counter.
Now she is her own boss at Plymouth-based Dann Makeup Academy.
Stephanie Downing
Stephanie has gone through more heartache than any parent should ever have to. Her son Daniel was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour last year and sadly died in February 2018.
Throughout this time Stephanie remained a rock for her little boy – doing everything she could to make his last months comfortable, including helping to arrange for him to get a call from his idol Ryan Reynolds.
Laura Eastel
Laura Eastel endured decades of cruel comments about her weight, but it wasn't until 2013, when she saw a photo of herself bulging out of her school uniform that she decided things had to change. In 2014 Laura made a promise to herself to make a change - she cleared all her cupboards of junk food and promised herself a new start. During her journey, Laura lost a staggering 9st 5lbs and has shrunk to a size 10.
Karen Friendship
Aldermans was started in 1969 by Bill Alderman as a designer and manufacturer of press tools.
His daughter, Karen Friendship, a qualified civil engineer, came on board in 1998 and has been managing director since 2006.
The business works as an engineering subcontractor, producing metalwork for a range of sectors including marine, retail, IT, office furniture and construction.
Sue Frost
Sue Frost, a Derriford hospital nurse, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2012 shortly after having a seizure on a family holiday to the Caribbean.
In May of last year, Sue was given the worrying news by her doctor that her tumour had grown even further in size but in November of last year she finally had the first operation to remove the tumour.
Following a chance meeting with a fundraising officer for Brain Tumour Research she was inspired to take on the year-long challenge of raising £6000 the local lab needs to stay open every day.
Calais Goord
Plymouth-born scout / model agent/ model booker is employed by Elite Model Management – one of the world’s leading model management companies.
She travels the world, she has an Instagram account to die for, she rubs shoulders with some of the world’s most talented models.
Calais began interning with Elite, but impressed so quickly that in less than six months she had bagged her ideal job as a model booker – the youngest to ever get such a position. Calais has now worked on the booking desk for five years and spends much of her time in America – in between attending events like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Emmie Green
Hardworking, ambitious and highly skilled, Emmie is quickly becoming one of the city’s most sought after make-up artists.
She has established a huge online following and is now so popular she is almost fully booked until 2019. Working from her home studio in Ivybridge, Emmie specialises in classic, glamorous and bridal make-up transformations.
Emmie now has a huge following on social media and has racked up almost 3,000 Facebook likes and more than 900 followers on Instagram .
Hannah Hawkey
Hannah quit her job as a teacher and started choreographing moves to her favourite rock music. She approached Hybrid Gym who allowed her to set up a trial class and within the space of four months she was running four classes a week of RockFit.
RockFit classes are for all ages, genders and abilities. RockFit was granted funding by Active Devon last year and was included in the wider ‘This Girl Can’ campaign that was set up by Sport England. The main purpose of the campaign was to motivate and empower women to exercise, despite their appearance or abilities.
Elisabeth Carney-Haworth
Elisabeth, headteacher of Torpoint nursery and infant school, co-created Operation Encompass with her husband, former police sergeant David Carney-Haworth.
The initiative, launched as a pilot in Devonport in February 2011, ensured that schools were made aware if a pupil has been the victim of, or witness to, violence at home the night before. This allowed teachers to put in place support for the child before they even arrived in their classroom.
Gemma Hayes
GG’s Hair & Beauty salon, on Mutley Plain, not only provides all the services you could imagine from a well-loved and established beauty parlour, but manager Gemma Hayes has also invested heavily in helping women who suffer with hair loss or thinning.
She and her team have trained alongside experts across the country to bring the revolutionary service of hair replacement to the South West, as well as to learn how to create a full wig of hair, one of the only salons in Plymouth able to offer the service.
Now, new to 2018, the team is offering a men’s hair replacement service.
Sarah Hocking
After dropping from a size 22 to a size 12, Sarah, who works for charity Landworks which rehabilitates those who have been or are heading for prison, said it's "the best thing she's ever done".
Sarah said she remembers being on the bigger side since she was around six years old after an injury left her unable to participate in sports and meant she piled on the pounds.
Following this she was severely bullied and told The Herald she turned to food as a comfort.
Charlotte Holloway
Charlotte Holloway has been chosen by the Labour Party to take on Tory MP Johnny Mercer at the next general election.
The 32-year-old former Plymouth High School for Girls student, who has described herself as a “geeky rebel”, has been selected from an all-women list to fight the Moor View seat whenever Prime Minister Theresa May next decides to go to the people.
Jess Holloway
Former Young City Laureate Jess held the position for 18 months and penned more than 100 poems including for some of the city’s most high-profile events including: Armed Forces Weekend, Lord Mayor’s Day, and the American Thanksgiving Day.
She had to appear and read at some of these events, including in front of thousands of people on The Hoe for Armed Forces Day.
Billie Jacobina
Designer Billie, born in Elburton, has stormed the catwalks at London Fashion Week with her clothing collection.
At university she was selected to show at Graduate Fashion Week with her first collection where she won the British Council Residency Award. It gives outstanding designers the chance to work overseas with other fashion networks.
Tasia Jade
Teenager Tasia Jade, from St Judes, took to social media group Plymouth Gossip Girls in a bid to try and sell a few of her drawings and raise funds towards expensive equipment to pursue tattooing – her dream career.
But the response the 18-year-old apprentice from Tattoo Topia received was far from what she expected.
Spending five days a week in the studio as an apprentice, Tasia finds it difficult to fit in part time work around this and so needed a way to raise the funds while working at Tattoo Topia.
Verity Jane Malinowska
After years of trying, Verity and husband Paul had son Jack in April 2016. He was diagnosed shortly afterwards with Cystic Fibrosis, a life-limiting condition that currently has no cure, and the couple decided to keep him away from nursery for as long as possible to protect his immune system.
Verity made a first birthday cake for Jack and the kernel of a new business idea grew in her mind and the self-taught 31-year-old discovered the hidden artist within, surprising herself with the accuracy of her modelling skills leaving her banking career behind to start her own cake making company The Cake-Up Artist.
Ann James
Ann James commenced her role as Chief Executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust in September 2012. Prior to this, she held a number of lead roles in the NHS in the south west, driving significant serviceimprovement and transformation across the region.
Susan Kane
Three years ago, Susan Kane, 62, retired from her job as a housing officer at Plymouth City Council and had very little knowledge about the beauty business industry.
Susan had always dreamt of owning her own salon and decided that she would not let her age stop her in pursuing a career she loved. She enrolled onto a level two beauty therapy course and now she wants to encourage other people around a similar age to do the same.
Dr Sam Lavender
Husband-and-wife team Andrew Lavender and Dr Sam Lavender run Plymouth Science Park’s satellite data company Pixalytics. Sam has more than 20 years of experience in remote sensing having been introduced to the field at Plymouth University whilst studying a BSc in Marine Science and Marine Computer Applications and has gone on to become a world renowned expert in the field.
Polly Lovell
Polly is principal of UTC Plymouth – a school fighting to turn its fortunes around after a poor OFSTED report put it in special measures.
A recent inspection for the school, which specialises in engineering and science subjects for students aged between 14 and 19, highlights several areas of progress.
They include an improved curriculum, training for staff, more opportunities for students to gain work-based learning experience and the appointment of new governors.
Eloise Malone
Eloise is Creative Director for Effervescent – a dynamic arts company working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to create exhibitions and installations.
The company has built a national reputation a national reputation for delivering outstandingly successful solutions to difficult social challenges, from reengaging young people not in education, employment or training and supporting young people with mental ill health to recover faster and more fully, to safeguarding the emotional welfare of Looked After children and young people.
Emma O’Mara
Emma is a health physicist overseeing huge civil engineering projects. She is also a Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) organiser.
Women in STEM is open to anyone, including men, in STEM industries or looking to enter them.
The group is particularly keen to engage people who can act as STEM "ambassadors", role-models who will visit schools and other educational establishments to encourage female students to consider STEM-based careers.
Maisie Marshall
Teenager Maisie recently won the Children’s Poetry contest for 2017 at the age of 16 - a competition which attracted an amazing 600 entries from Plymouth school children.
The Stoke Damerel Community College pupil wowed judges with the maturity and depth in her poem.
Joanne Martin
Jo was called to the Bar in 2005 having previously qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to moving to Devon she worked for both the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office in London and then became a Higher Court advocate, before joining Devon Chambers.
Since transferring to the Bar, Jo has developed a heavy weight practice both prosecuting and defending in all areas of Criminal Law.
She is a founder member of the Western Circuit Women's Forum and a mentor of junior women barristers.
Clare McCombe
Clare McCombe founded the South Hams’ Flint’s Yard enterprise aged just 19.
Clare started her business after research and trials led to her developing a product called Itching? – a powerful and advanced midge repellent for use on all horses.
The idea came after Clare’s own horse, Flint, suffered badly from midge attacks.
Clare decided not to go to university and instead devote herself to developing her business.
Financed by her own savings, and a loan from her parents, she launched Flint’s Yard at the UK’s largest equine trade show, BETA International in 2015.
Kezia Ormrod
The 12-year-old daughter of armed forces hero Mark Ormrod bought a takeaway meal for a homeless man and wished him a 'Merry Christmas' after spotting him sat out in the wind and rain.
Kezia Hanton had been heading back from The Herald Community Awards with dad Mark Ormrod - a former Royal Marine and triple amputee who recently claimed four medals at the Invictus Games - when she spotted the man sat outside a casino on Union Street.
Kezia bought the man 20 McNuggets, large fries, double cheeseburger and a hot chocolate and told her mum the man couldn't believe it and looked 'very happy' after receiving the unexpected meal.
Professor Judith Petts
Formerly pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at the University of Southampton, Professor Petts is now VC at Plymouth University.
She began her career in the retail and banking sectors before returning to academia, holding various roles at the universities of Nottingham and Loughborough, where she became director of the centre for hazard and risk management. In 1999 she became deputy director of the centre for environmental research and training at the University of Birmingham and then head of the school of geography, earth and environmental sciences, before becoming pro vice-chancellor.
Charlotte Phillips
Charlotte had to wait more than a year for treatment for depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder and PTSD – despite telling doctors that she was self-harming and had attempted suicide several times.
She bravely asked to share her story in The Herald in the hope she could change perceptions of the illness and help others.
She is also calling for improvements to mental health services across the region.
Sam Remmer
Sam has been pole dancing for 14 years and founded Mutley Plain’s the Art of Dance in 2004. She’s now a national pole dance figure.
Lesley Shorrocks
Lesley Shorrocks is a former chairman of Plymouth’s Federation of Small Businesses and has been a director of the Plymouth-based chamber, as well as a business boss in her own right.
Ms Shorrocks took on her new job as Deputy Chief Executive of the Devon Chamber of Commerce in November 2017 after spending several months undertaking “freelance” work for the Chamber, and establishing the popular The Wave installation of ceramic poppies on the Hoe, and will assist chief executive George Cowcher.
Becca Speare
Samphire Brasserie, which opened in 2013 on Mayflower Street, has been reviewed by customers on TripAdvisor as one of the best vegan eateries in the country.
Plymouth natives, Becca and Joe met at art college at the age of 16 and have always been interested in exploring vegan and vegetarian cooking at home.
The couple became vegan together and said the idea for the cruelty-free restaurant stemmed from their struggle to find somewhere to eat out that did not include fish in the restaurant’s ingredients. They now run their popular restaurant as well as caring for their two children.
Chrissie Smaldon
Chrissie is project lead for Plymouth's first dedicated women’s centre for those who have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence and other traumatic issues.
The Sunflower Project stemmed from Trevi House, a residential rehabilitation facility for mothers with drink and drug problems – it has now branched out and secured its own premises for day activities, counselling, one to one sessions and is also a space for mum and babies to come and feel safe.
Sheila Snellgrove
Sheila and her team founded the Barbican Theatre company in 1980 from a ground floor flat in Wyndham Street, Stonehouse with no financial resources, no grant income and no rehearsal space. The theatre is now a dynamic charity offering as many people as possible, but especially the young, access to, participation in, and enjoyment of high quality artistic activity, without prejudice.
Suzanne Sparrow
Dr Sparrow started her business in 1978, bringing over European students, placing them with host families and teaching them English in one of the city's first language schools.
She still runs the multi-million pound business, and its team of 30 staff, today.
Lola Tambling
Lola puts many skaters twice her age to shame as she whizzes around the ramps and slopes at Junkyard skate park in Saltash. She now competes nationally and has even modelled for Animal clothing. Most recently you'll find her at Boardmasters, carving it up with the likes of Plymouth's own Stef Nurding.
Rebecca Ward
Rebecca Ward, is the South West region winner of the prestigious Outstanding Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year award.
Staff at Courtlands Special School Academy (part of ACE Schools Trust) who nominated her, say they are “thrilled” at her success.
The annual award recognises the skill and commitment of HLTAs - highly experienced teaching assistants who carry out a wide variety of important roles in schools, including supporting teachers in the planning and delivery of lessons and developing learning resources.
Jilly Newton-Westlake
Jilly, who is just 15, won the National Amateur Boxing Championship finals and is for the second time this year a national champion.
The schoolgirl from Deer Park is set to become one of the UK’s next boxing superstars – keep your eyes peeled.
Chelsea Wheeler
Selfless Chelsea Wheeler, pupil of Notre Dame School, has chosen to go part time at her sixth form to carry out duties as a young carer for her dad, Ron Wheeler, who has been recently diagnosed with MND after two years without a diagnosis.
Abi White
She opened her animation studio and art gallery in early 2017 with an ambition to do more that build a business – Abi wants to make city artists world famous.
Artworks3 opened in the HQ business centre in Union Street where talented Abi delivers masterclasses in art and animation and promotes Plymouth painters, sculptors and other creatives via an in-house gallery and an international web portal.
Megan Williams
Megan is still in full-time education but that doesn’t mean she isn’t one of the city’s fledgling business builders.
The teenager is managing director of Iridescent, the Devonport High School for Girls team that won the Plymouth heat of Young Enterprise – and a contract to supply billionaire Chris Dawson’s The Range retail empire.
The girls triumphed in a closely fought contest, ahead of other Plymouth schools, by coming up with the ingenious Hyduration water bottle.
The product, specially calibrated to show athletes how much H2O they need to drink on a 10-mile run, so wowed Mr Dawson that he decided to stock 5,000 of the containers in some of his 140 superstores.
Candice Wills
Candice lost the use of her bladder and bowels, as well as all feeling in her legs, when a pregnancy ended in tragedy in 2009.
Mum-of-three Candice has had a total of 15 miscarriages and on that occasion caught an infection during pregnancy and broke her spine.
But now, eight years on, a device similar to a pacemaker has been fitted in her spine - and it had an immediate effect.
Candice said she was not only able to go to the loo for the first time in years but she could also feel the bathroom floor below her feet.
Carla Riley-Wood
After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of seven, Carla’s childhood was dominated by hospital appointments, gruelling chemotherapy sessions, operations and long bouts of recovery.
Every time she hit a setback, she fought on. She is a true survivor.
But now, at the age of 39, she, and her children, are having to come to terms with the fact that her fight is coming to an end.
The treatment she received as a child has caused irreparable damage to her lungs and, while she does not yet know how long she has left, this month doctors told her she is dying.
Leighann Wright
Through her charity Little Things, LeighAnne provides support for people who have lost a baby.
Through her work as a funeral director LeighAnne discovered that there were very few provisions in place to clothe babies who had died prematurely.
She took up her sewing machine and in March 2013 set up the not-for-profit organisation Little Things; producing clothing for grieving parents across the world to clothe their children in, free of charge.
