The grandchildren of a Silsden man were so impressed with his courage after he suffered a stroke that they nominated him for a special award.

On Tuesday Alan Creighton rece-ived the Stroke Association's Life After Stroke Courage award from Steeton vicar and Airedale Hospital chaplain the Rev Keith Owen at a special presentation.

Alan, 67, of Cornwall Avenue, had his first stroke three weeks after his 65th birthday. He suffered another more severe stroke later that year which left him confined to a wheelchair. Alan also lost his speech nearly altogether although he can make himself understood.

His daughter Angela says: "My children - Chris, 16, James, 14, and Kathryn, nine - have been so impr-essed with his courage they nominated him for the award last September. My dad is always so cheerful and greets people with the thumbs up."

Alan's wife Phyllis told the Keighley News that the former textiles worker was 'over the moon' with his award.

"He did not know about it until Tuesday night," she says. "He's always very cheerful."

She says her husband loves to get out and enjoys a trip to the races.

Phylis, 62, and her son, Gary, 34, share the duties of looking after Alan. They also received a special carers award after they were nominated by Angela.

"It takes a lot of hard work," says Phyllis. "But we don't think we are doing anything special. We are only doing what anyone else would do."

Angela pays tribute to the stroke association and its work. "They do a great job and they could do with some more volunteers," she says.

Anyone wishing to help the association should ring the secretary of the Keighley Stroke Club, Mrs A Bradley, at Airedale Hospital on 652511.

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