A PENSIONER who cares for the homeless and less fortunate in society has been nominated for an award.

Les Torry, in his 70s, who lives on the Wervin Mobile Home Park near Ellesmere Port, has been put forward as Person of the Year in the Pioneer’s Your Champions Awards 2009, run by our parent company Trinity Mirror.

He was nominated by Claire Litherland, who explained: “Les is in his 70s but despite his years he has remained a very active part of his community.

“Many years ago he came across a 17-year-old called Jimmy who was homeless and he took him under his wing, into his own home and cared for him for about 10 years, on and off.

“Jimmy is now married, runs a successful business and Les has just been to visit him and his wife, who now live abroad.

“Jimmy has never forgotten the support Les gave him.”

She added: “Les is now a host volunteer for Cheshire Nightstop, a charitable project run by Forum Housing and funded by Ellesmere Port Housing Team, which links homeless 16 to 25-year-olds with host families.

“Under the scheme, Les has taken in young men who have suffered family breakdowns. Many had criminal backgrounds.

“He has given them a warm bed for as long as they need it, helped them to find more permanent accommodation in hostels and taken them on days out.

“When everyone else has turned their backs on these young men, seeing them as too much of a risk to house, Les has welcomed them into his own home.

“Les is currently the only Nightstop host in the whole of Ellesmere Port and his dedication to these socially excluded and vulnerable young men is remarkable.

“The young men respect him for the trust he is bestowing upon them and it is a fantastic example of how different generations can work together.

“As Les comes from a generation where the population grew up with a lot less in terms of money and personal possessions than young people today, combined with his own hardships of being raised in poverty, he has a great strength in understanding the difficulties young vulnerable people face.

“Ellesmere Port needs more people like Les!”