Taunton's Street Pastors were lending support to a young woman near the town's Okoko nightclub in Bridge Street on Saturday night when they found themselves face to face with DJ Michael Andre, brother of celebrity Peter Andre.

Emerging from his car beside the team of Christian volunteers who patrol the streets offering care and support to vulnerable late night clubbers, Michael paused for a photograph then shook the hand of Street Pastor leader Adrian Prior-Sankey.

Pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the greeting, Adrian said, 'Michael bore a remarkable similarity to his famous brother Peter. He was very polite and immediately endeared himself to the female members of our team by his impromptu expression of goodwill to the street pastors. Michael then made his way into Okoko nightclub to participate in the first of their new Friday Reem nights.' 

14 new volunteers have been commissioned as Street Pastors bringing to 70 the total number of ‘Good Samaritans’ who regularly serve on the streets of night-time Taunton.
 
At a birthday party to celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of the scheme in the town the fresh faces, who have all completed a 5-month training programme were awarded their distinctive blue caps. The latest recruits were commended by Mrs Ros Ede, regional representative of the parent body The Ascension Trust, which governs the fast-growing phenomena, that has seen a significant reduction in night-time economy-related crime in many of Britain’s towns and cities.

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Recently retired Coordinator of Taunton’s Street Pastors, Mrs Kay Buriani, was among three people judged to be making a real difference to life in Taunton Deane who have been honoured by the Mayor, Councillor Bob Bowrah.
 
Kay was announced as a winner of the 2010 Taunton Deane Citizenship Award and honoured at a special ceremony in the Council Chamber on 9 April.
 
The Citizenship Award scheme to recognise outstanding local voluntary service has been run in the Borough since 1985 and is supported by the four Rotary Clubs in the district. In presenting Kay with a cut glass bowl and a cheque for £100 to her chosen charity (Street Pastors) and a broach on behalf of the judging panel, The Mayor commended her hard work and dedication to the Taunton Street Pastors initiative.
 
Councillor Bowrah addressed the capacity audience which included several past Mayors, serving councillors and senior representatives of many voluntary organisations in Somerset.  He outlined the meritorious qualities displayed by Kay which had enabled the panel to choose her from an impressive range of other nominees. Among the distinguishing factors was Kay’s offer of her services as a volunteer when the Taunton Street Pastor Scheme was being set up and her appointment as its first Coordinator prior to the start of street patrols in 2008.
 
While motivated by her Christian faith, Kay has not received a penny for her many hours of unstinting hard work that has been fundamental to the growth and success of the scheme locally.
 
Kay has faithfully carried out many activities with cheerful concern including:

• Organising the weekly rota of Street Pastors who patrol the streets of Taunton on Fridays and Saturdays nights, regularly finding replacements to cover sickness, etc., sometimes at very short notice
• Briefing teams before their shifts on most weekends over the last two years
• Providing administration and support for the training courses that have contributed to the rapid development of the Taunton scheme from the initial 35 volunteers to over 70 fully trained volunteers today.

The Mayor declared that Taunton has become a safer and happier place over the weekends with many of Taunton’s young people benefiting from Kay’s devotion and commitment.  Reference was also made to Kay’s voluntary work at North Street Church where she serves as a deacon and helps with the lunch club as well as hosting a prayer and support group for adults suffering with anxiety and/or depression.  
 
Family members and church friends joined with representatives of Taunton Street Pastors management team to celebrate Kay’s award in the Council Chamber. Kay expressed her thanks to the Mayor and the Rotary Clubs for the honour bestowed upon her and formally presented the cheque to her successor as Coordinator, Adrian Prior-Sankey, and the Chairman of the management committee, Vincent Carrington, to help fund the ongoing ministry of the caring initiative by Christians in the town.