Bryan Foley Awards 2023

Second Annual Bryan Foley Award Ceremony Held

Barry Town Council is delighted to announce that on Thursday 2 March 2023 it held the Annual Bryan Foley Award to celebrate the outstanding voluntary community work of those nominated, from across Barry and The Vale.

This year, the decision to choose the winner of the Bryan Foley Award was especially tough and so it was decided that there would also be an award for “Highly Commended”.

Peter Evans was nominated by Neil Murray for his outstanding contribution in the voluntary sector, leading to Peter being awarded the Highly Commended Award 2023. Peter is an inspirational person who joined the scouting community as a young lad, about 60 years ago and has gone on to give a further 50 years of their life to nurture, teach and guide so many young boys and girls of Barry. A friend and mentor of Bryan Foley himself.

Through example, patience and kindness, Peter equips young people with essential life skills and also develops the skills of other volunteers. Peter has also given many years to Cleaning Barry’s Beaches and working the annual Scout Fete.

Neil Murray said in his nomination that; “Peter Evans has been a member of the Scout Association for an amazing 60 continuous years and all of that the same Scout Group, 11th Barry Sea Scouts. Volunteering beside Peter has, and continues to be, an honour and a pleasure.

Dean Caldwell was nominated by Sarah Baker, for his tireless service to the people of Barry and the Vale. Dean is the winner of the Bryan Foley Award 2023.

Dean’s hard work within the community extends to sports, emergency services, Covid support, radio broadcasting and more. Health, wellbeing and care is the heart of what he does – saving lives at Barry Island, working full time for the Welsh Ambulance Service and running into fires to rescue people.

Dean always goes that extra step further to help and put others first, with nothing ever being too big or too small. Having just stood down from 18 years with RNLI Barry Dock, he has just qualified as a HM Coastguard Rescue Officer. Not content with frontline work with the Welsh Ambulance Service, he is now one of their Operational Team leaders.
Sarah Baker stating in her nomination that; “Dean is probably the most altruistic person I know.

The Bryan Foley Award was established in 2021 to commemorate the late Bryan Foley for his tireless community work in Barry. The Award is presented to an individual who has shown excellence and commitment through their volunteer work and as a member of the organisation they belong to. The Bryan Foley Award is open to all those who volunteer within a uniformed organisation operating in Barry and is open to all ages and levels within the organisation.

Barry Town Council requested nominations in December 2022, with the winner being agreed at a meeting of the Commemorative Naming Advisory Committee held on Thursday, 2 February 2023 along with Bryan’s daughter, Rachel Foley.

On the evening of Thursday 2nd March 2023, Peter Evans was presented with the Highly Commended Award and Dean Caldwell was presented the Bryan Foley Award by the Mayor of Barry, Councillor Helen Payne at the Cemetery Approach Community Centre.

The event was attended by representatives of the many organisations Bryan was a part of; Barry First Responders, Barry Fire and Rescue Service, Royal British Legion, Scouts (to name but a few!) and his family and friends.

Speeches were also made by the Mayor of Barry, Councillor Helen Payne and Dean Caldwell himself upon accepting the award.

Congratulations to both Peter and Dean!

The Bryan Foley Award will open again later this year for nominations.