Wirral taxi driver Alan Gilfoyle has been named the North West winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award for 13 years of collecting Christmas presents for local children. Acorn Group had set regional announcements to begin on 26 October, with the national winner on 11 November, and Birkenhead News carried the North West result that day. The opening of nominations is already on TaxiFeed. Wirral cabbie wins Taxi Hero award after 13 years of bringing Christmas joy to local children
The appeal
The announcement puts the national field at over 1,700 nominees. That figure is Acorn's. It describes an annual toy appeal across the Wirral: friends, neighbours and local businesses give presents, Gilfoyle buys more himself, and what began as a small collection now fills his home before the gifts go out to children who might otherwise go without.
The same announcement describes a separate effort earlier this year, 100 press-ups a day through March in memory of his late mother, raising hundreds of pounds for a local cancer charity. The sum is the announcement's figure.
Passengers and neighbours nominated him. One nomination called him someone who "goes above and beyond". Another noted that he buys toys himself so more children have a present at Christmas. Others wrote about help for passengers who need assistance.
In their words
Alan Gilfoyle said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been named the North West Taxi Hero. I never started collecting toys or fundraising for recognition – I just wanted to do something to help people in my community, particularly children who might otherwise miss out at Christmas.
"To know that so many people have taken the time to nominate me means a great deal. I'm really proud to represent the Wirral and I'm looking forward to the national winner being announced. Whatever happens, it's fantastic to see taxi drivers getting this kind of recognition."
Ash Coakley, head of taxi insurance at Acorn Group, said: "Taxi drivers are often at the heart of their communities, and Alan is a brilliant example of the difference they can make beyond their day-to-day work.
"For 13 years, he has dedicated an enormous amount of his own time, energy and money to making sure local children have something to open on Christmas morning. His fundraising and the care he shows his passengers only add to what is a remarkable story.
"The number and warmth of the nominations Alan received speak volumes about how much he means to people across the Wirral. He's a thoroughly deserving North West Taxi Hero and exactly the kind of person these awards were created to recognise."
The prize
Acorn's terms provide a £100 Amazon gift card for each regional winner across 11 regions, including the North West, and a £1,000 Amazon gift card plus the inaugural Britain's Taxi Hero trophy for the national winner. Gilfoyle remains in the running for that title. The announcement gives the national result as Wednesday 11 November. The winners were chosen by a judging panel drawn from the taxi and insurance sectors. Taxi Hero Award