Rochdale kit man runner-up in hearing awards

Jack Northover with William Roache

Rochdale’s kit man has narrowly missed out on the title of Specsavers Sound Barrier Star of the Year.

Jack Northover, who works for Rochdale AFC, was one of only five national finalists at the Awards which recognise inspirational achievement in the deaf or hard of hearing.

Jack attended a grand final the Wednesday 22 September where he was named runner-up in the competition. Coronation Street Star, William Roache MBE, who is himself partially deaf, presented the awards.

Mr Northover said: “I had a great time at the final and it has been a real pleasure to meet William. It would have been great to have won, but there were some very inspirational people with fascinating stories, making it a very tough competition.”

The 57-year old from Castleton was nominated for a Sound Barrier Star award after losing his hearing on one side due to the aggressive radiotherapy treatment he received after being diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago.

Rather than let it hold him back, the Dale kit man has become a role model of determination and generosity, by helping hundreds of local people in similar situations by raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities across Greater Manchester including Factor 50 and Christies Hospital.

Not afraid of a challenge, Jack has taken to the skies for 18 charity parachute jumps and has even completed a 24-hour bike ride, while also organising regular charity fundraisers in the process.

Roger Hewitt from Bromley, Kent was named Sound Barrier Star of the Year 2010. The judges were impressed with his help improving transport systems for the deaf and hard of hearing ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. He received a £1,500 holiday voucher to spend with luxury holiday company Take Me Too, a £1,500 voucher to use in a Specsavers hearing centre and the coveted Sound Barrier Star 2010 winner’s trophy.

William Roache, who has hearing loss himself, said: “It was inspiring to meet Jack and all the other finalists; they all have such fabulous stories and are all winners. It was hard to choose who should receive an award.”

Mr Northover competed against four other national finalists who were all interviewed by a panel of expert judges including William Roache, Mathew Gully from Specsavers and David Burgess from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

David Burgess, a trustee of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and hearing dog recipient himself says: “We hear some really inspiring stories from the recipients of our hearing dogs and other members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Sound Barrier Stars has been a great opportunity to find more of these unsung heroes.”

Specsavers donated £5 to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People for every entry and has raised over £50,000 over the past two years for the charity. Hearing dogs help to transform the lives of their deaf owners by alerting them to sounds that others take for granted, affording them greater independence, confidence and security.