Hero award for Trafford woman who saved pensioner from crooks

A WOMAN FROM TRAFFORD has been given a hero award after preventing scammers from conning an elderly lady.

Arlette Naylor, who runs Cherished Moments on Warburton Lane in Partington, challenged two men as they tried to make Edna, 82, pay for roof repairs and gutter work that she hadn’t asked for.

When the men presented Arlette with a receipt for £120 written on a scrap piece of card, she quickly called the police.

Arlette said: “ That particular morning, I looked through the window and noticed a guy in a high-vis jacket walking around her house.

“Her son would have let us know if she was having some people coming round to do some work on her house so I thought it was strange.

“I asked the gentlemen what they were doing and just got a load of abuse, they jumped in their van and scarpered.

“Afterwards I came back to our kitchen and asked them to make me a cup of coffee quickly as my knees had gone to jelly, but I was just acting on instinct.”

[pullquote]“Trafford Council is extremely proud of residents like Arlette” Cllr John Reilly[/pullquote]She said this was common in Partington and Urmston despite notices in the papers, with several gangs of conmen preying on vulnerable elderly people, particularly ones living alone and suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

As a result of her quick-thinking, Arlette was given a ‘Hero Award’ by Trafford Trading Standards and also received a gift card and flowers from the Trafford Centre, where an awards night was hosted.

Cllr John Reilly, Executive Member for Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure said: “Trafford Council is extremely proud of residents like Arlette and it’s a pleasure to be able to present her with a ‘Hero Award’.

Arlette and her team at Cherished Moments knew Edna as she attended their day centre three days a week.

Since the incident, Arlette says that Edna, who suffers from dementia, now comes to the centre for an extra two days a week free-of-charge so they know she is safe.

Affectionately known as ‘The Club’, the privately-funded day centre provides it’s users with a space to socialise with friends and runs trips and activities locally, with an annual trip to the Blackpool Illuminations.

Arlette said: “It’d be absolutely amazing to get additional help, I’ve just had to buy a brand new minibus which has cost £50,000”

Anyone wishing to help the centre can contact Cherished Moments on 07852 598339.