NEARLY 18 months ago a North Wales fleet manager was left needing emergency surgery after suffering a heart attack at the age of just 34.

But now Adrian Binnersley has scooped a national ‘unsung hero’ award after being secretly nominated by his boss at Jolly Good Van Hire for his dedication to the company.

And he had no idea he had been nominated for a British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association Industry Hero award until his name was read out at the ceremony.

Adrian, of Buckley, said: “I was playing football six times a week. When I got home from football one day my wife said I looked pale.

“I went to Wrexham Maelor Hospital and tests showed I had had a heart attack. They said I needed an operation the next day to have four stents put in where the arteries were blocked. They put it down to being hereditary.”

A married father-of-two, Adrian said: “They said the award was because of my work. I have been with Mark Hughes, the company director, since the start.

“It was also because I had had a heart attack but yet that did not stop me from doing my job.”

Adrian, 36, who now runs Jolly Good Van Hire’s new branch on Deeside, said: “It is nice to receive the award. I just want to thank Mark for everything he has done
and all the lads that I work with as well. They have all looked after me.”

Mark Hughes, director of Jolly Good Van Hire, said: “Adrian has worked for the company for five years.

“He works all the hours we ask him but he also does extra hours if there is an emergency.

“If someone needs a van then he will go and fetch one.

“He is a very dedicated member of staff and really puts in the effort to help people.”

Mark said: “Four weeks after his heart attack he was asking if he could return but I made him wait until eight weeks, which is what the doctors were recommending.

“I thought the BVRLA awards were an ideal way to show our appreciation of the work that Adrian does.

“He is always the first to volunteer and always there to help out. If I had told him before the awards ceremony he would have said he didn’t deserve the award.

“I am delighted that he had got the award, it is a fantastic achievement for him.”