Mull Hall Care Home 'real-life hero' James Samson 'speechless' after national accolade
A real life Easter Ross “hero” who enriches the lives of his residents and colleagues every day has won the care champion accolade at a national awards.
James Samson, a maintenance operative at Sanctuary Care’s Mull Hall Care Home in Barbaraville near Invergordon, was “speechless” after being crowned winner of the Sara Berrio Care Champion Award at the ceremony in London.
Related: Milton man is a finalist in national care awards
Home manager Lorna McDonald nominated James for the wonderful ways he brings joy to everyone around him at Mull Hall.
One of the home’s residents has gone from strength to strength – so much so that he’s soon moving into his own apartment. Devoting several days of his own time, James has been helping him to decorate his new home.
In his spare time you will often find James at Mull Hall, whether taking a resident who loves the sea down to the beach, working through the night to make sure a bedroom is looking beautiful for a new resident to move in, or spending a day doing the barbecue for a special celebration.
Every year James donates Christmas lights to the home in memory of his late father-in-law Peter who lived there. This year, in light of the home’s pending garden transformation, he donated and planted 2000 bulbs so it’s bursting with colour year after year.
One of the comments from a resident’s loved one in his nomination described how he is an “unsung hero” with a special “gift”.
Following the event, he said: “I was so nervous and was extremely shocked to win. I was speechless! I am so happy and feel really proud.
“I actually brought the award into work as some of the residents really wanted to see it – the residents were told on the night that I’d won and they were over the moon!”
His award follows in the footsteps of Mull Hall’s care assistant Sophie Roddick, who won the Care Newcomer category at last year’s National Care Awards.
