Father's Day in November?

It was Father's Day today! Honest! Well it was at the Little Jogs Day Nursery in Hungerford - a rather clever invention to give the many Dads whose children attened the popular private nursery the chance to see what they get up to.

Morgan PR handles both the public relations and web presence of Little Jogs and were on hand to capture images for both the website and what should be a slam dunk press release considering the originality of the idea.

It was great talking to the Dad's to discover just how thrilled they were to be there. One was so busy with work that they rarely even dropped off or collected their son from the nursery, so it provided a rare opportunity to see how he flourishes within the purpose designed environment.

Other Dads had simply taken the opportunity to spend more time at the nursery where their child seems so happy during the week.

Press release for worthy medial recipient

Morgan PR is proud to work with a number of local charities, one of which is the Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation, and we were delighted to help when its hard working secretary was award a very prestigious medal, and provide the photography for the release:

A Ramsbury man who has devoted his life to the Royal Merchant Navy has been awarded the The Merchant Navy Medal, a prestigious honour which reward meritorious service and acts of courage afloat by British registered merchant seafarers

Commander Charles Heron-Watson is the secretary of the Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation which helps the needy children of those who have been in the service of the Merchant Navy.

“I am delighted of course,” said Commander Heron-Watson. “However, it would not be possible without the Foundation, which for 180 years has been carrying out essential work for the needy children of merchant seafarers.

“I have been Secretary for two years, although before that I was a caseworker which means I certainly understand the problems, but not just because of eight years of casework, but also because of I was chairman of the Education Trusts Forum for three years, which impacts on the lives of some 3,000 children; indeed the Foundation is part of the Forum.”

The chairman of the Foundation, John Adey, said: “The Trustees of the Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation are delighted to note the decision of the Merchant Navy Medal Committee to award the Merchant Navy Medal 2008 to the Foundation’s Secretary, Commander Charles Heron-Watson, in recognition of his services to the education and welfare of the needy children of British Merchant Navy seafarers.

Commander Heron-Watson says the recession will make the work of the Foundation even more essential: “There is no question the economic downturn is going to have a serious impact on the parents of many of our benefactors and more children will become needy.

“To qualify a child must have a parent who has served at sea in the Merchant Navy for longer than five years and they have to been needy; we are able to offer in their personal development provided it is ‘education for employment’ from the start of their education up to the age of about 25.

“Every time we help someone fulfil their potential it is a success, although sometime the help we give can also have a dramatic impact on the lives of others. We helped Emily Maw finish her law degree and now she is a director of The Innocence Project in New Orleans carrying out human rights work which has seen as many as a dozen conviction overturned.

“Our biggest challenge has always been making sure that people are aware of the Foundation and the work that we do; now that is going to become even more important.”

British seafarers are employed by companies, not the State; they had never had a decoration of their own to reward meritorious service or acts of courage until the recent introduction of The Merchant Navy Medal, which is awarded annually on Trafalgar Day.

Flooding Advice Website Launched

The exhaustive work the Morgan PR has been doing for Chartered Building Surveyors, Easton Bevins came to fruition today with the launch of their Flood Advice website and helpline; over 30 pages of useful advice and contact details for flood victims across Berkshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Press releases have gone out to the media across these areas and as Mike Bull from Easton Bevins Newbury Office, which has teams helping people who have been flooded in Thatcham, Pangbourne and in Oxford and Abingdon, indeed throughout Berkshire and Oxfordshire, explained: “We really felt there was a need for a central point where people could get impartial and independent advice on their situation.

“Our surveyors have dealt with flooding in the past, but never anything on this scale and it has become quite clear that there is conflicting advice being offered to the victims of the floods.

“With devastation on such a large scale it is easy to see why there has not been a consistent approach to assessing the damage caused, but it is essential that this is done by a qualified professional like a Chartered Surveyor who has the training to perform such an important function.

“Many people will discover that their insurance policies will cover the use of such professionals as ourselves; we are specialists in building construction as opposed to the loss adjusters that many people are seeing and who have been clearly overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of claims.

The website gives helpful tips on the problems people should be looking for together with an enquiry form that will put them in touch with one of our Chartered Surveyors who will offer any advice and can arrange a visit if required.

An additional benefit to using Easton Bevins is how the company can project manage any remedial works it identifies as necessary and secure the necessary accredited professionals and tradesmen to carry out the work, reducing the flood victim’s exposure to rogue traders.”

Couldn't have put it better myself!

With the releases, well.. released we now have to wait to see what is published and broadcast.