Surrey roofer, Lee Moran, was crowned the nation’s top ‘Local Hero’ in the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) 2018 UK Roofing Awards, sponsored by SIG Roofing.
Lee, whose family-run business Moran Roofing Specialists is based in Farnham, was recognised for his years of fundraising for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which cares for terminally-ill people, as well as other good causes.
He was presented with his award on Friday, May 11, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel by SIG Roofing managing director, Andrew Wakelin.
The NFRC UK Roofing Awards, hosted this year by BBC presenter Dan Walker, recognise the outstanding workmanship and skill of roofing professionals nationwide. The ‘Local Hero’ award was a new category introduced for 2018 to celebrate the fantastic work many roofers do in their local communities.
Lee has been raising funds since 2012. He was inspired by his stepfather, who also raises money for charity, along with the deaths at a young age of a friend and an uncle who each attended the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice for their end of life treatment. His father, Darryl, also survived cancer a few years ago which spurred him on even more.
Lee received an unprecedented number of nominations for his many charity works. A Facebook page he set up, ‘Farnham Rants’, has so far raised more than £10,000 for the hospice.
He has also raised money for the Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice and the British Heart Foundation.
As well as managing the Facebook group, he regularly takes on tough challenges such as the Palace to Palace cycle ride, from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace. He has also tackled the London to Brighton Cycle Ride and the Tough Mudder obstacle challenge, both on numerous occasions, to raise funds and he’s already planning a ‘width of England’ cycle marathon for 2019.
‘Farnham Rants’ has attracted more than 19,500 members. Lee said: “I set it up to encourage light-hearted banter and build an online community where I gently persuade people to take out an advertisement with the money donated to Phyllis Tuckwell.
“It was really pleasing to be nominated for the Local Hero Award and a massive surprise to actually win it,” he said.
Moran Roofing Specialists, which has a workforce of ten, was established in the 1960’s by Lee’s grandfather, Mick. Lee’s father, Darryl, took over in 1981 and now, with his father aiming to retire, Lee has become the third generation of Morans to run the business.
SIG Roofing’s Andrew Wakelin said: “The awards recognise the best of the best in the roofing sector and it is a pleasure to be headline sponsor in the UK Roofing Awards’ 11th year.
“It is an industry full of excellent businesses serving the construction industry and also outstanding individuals who go the extra mile and Lee Moran is a perfect example of this and fully deserves his Local Hero award.”
