A QUICK thinking teenager who helped save the life of her step dad when he suffered a heart attack was among 50 local heroes treated to an exclusive cinema trip.

Ankerside Shopping Centre and Tamworth Round Table chose 15-year-old Kirsty Islip to join other community champions at the special screening to see Paddington, the movie world’s biggest new film.

Kirsty, who was nominated by her parents, was one of a number of courageous youngsters chosen. Others included Joshua Welch, 12, whose father has a brain tumour and brother suffers autism, Claire McCarthy, 10, a loving sister to her special needs younger brother, plus Millfield Primary School lollipop ladies Sue Orton, Linda Shears and Janet Coady.

The celebratory event at Tamworth’s Odeon was laid on to reward unsung heroes of the community in the run up to Christmas. They asked the public to nominate 50 deserving people to receive free pairs of tickets.

Ankerside Shopping Centre Manager Pete Barber said: “As a former paramedic myself, I know that Kirsty’s quick actions made a huge difference. The large number of nominations is a demonstration of the great community spirit of Tamworth, and I’m delighted we could help mark that with these free tickets.”

Tamworth Round Table Chairman Paul Bryant said: “We are grateful to Ankerside Shopping centre for funding the screening of this film. We arranged for Santa and his sleigh to be at the Odeon, to help get everybody into the Christmas spirit.

“There were some very heart-warming nominations and I thank everybody who put forward their own community hero.”

Kirsty, of Wilnecote, said she really enjoyed the film and the chance to meet so many extraordinary people.

Modestly she said she did not consider herself to be a hero despite winning praise from paramedics and family after she stayed calm and clear thinking when her step dad, Fazeley councillor Simon Clements, suffered a heart attack earlier this year.

“When I think about it I realise that if I had not been there to help he might not have survived but I don’t really think of myself as heroic or anything like that,” she said.

Her mum, Tamworth councillor, Tina Clements, was out at a council meeting when Simon, 49, began to feel ill. He told Kirsty he thought he was having a heart attack and she immediately took control of the situation. She did not panic but dialled 999 and stayed on the phone to the emergency services, administering first aid, until the paramedics arrived. She also contacted her mum to explain what had happened.

Simon, who suffered a second heart attack at hospital and had to undergo a double heart bypass operation, believes Kirsty helped save his life.

He said: “She was so calm and collected, she knew exactly what to do. I could not even get up from the chair but Kirsty did everything right, without panicking herself or causing anyone else to panic.”

A pupil of Wilnecote High School, Kirsty was helped enormously by the fact that she had recently done a basic first aid course.

Tina said she wanted to nominate her daughter for the cinema tickets as a thank you.

She added: “Kirsty has also done a huge amount for Breast Cancer UK with AeT swim school including a 22 mile swim and she has helped with Wilnecote poppy appeal.”

Kirsty, currently studying for her GCSE exams, saw the film with her school friend Courtney Hendon. They were delighted to break off from revision to see Paddington, the blockbuster new movie based on Michael Bond’s classic children’s books about a marmalade sandwich loving adventurous bear.

Joshua Welch, of Glascote Heath, was also thrilled to be given tickets after he was nominated by his mum Nichola, who went with him to the see the film. She said she put forward his name because Joshua has done so much to help their family during what has been an extremely challenging few years.

Kingsbury School pupil Joshua, who celebrated his 12th birthday last week, helps to care for both his dad, Simon, 38, who has terminal brain cancer and his older brother, Ben, 13, who has autism and ADHD.

Nichola said: “He also took his younger sister Kaytee, who is only seven, to school and back every day to help me so I could care for his dad. He takes so much on and as a result he often misses out on things he would like to do as he puts the rest of our family’s needs first. He never complains about it either. That’s why I nominated him so he could have a treat all to himself and as a way of showing him how much we all appreciate what he does for us.”

Joshua said afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed the film, adding: “It was a really special day for me.”

Mother and daughter duo Emma and Claire McCarthy, of Fazeley, also enjoyed some special time together in recognition of all the time Claire devotes to helping care for her special needs brother Oliver.

Emma said: “Oliver is three years younger than Claire and so highly dependent on our family unit that we tend to put him first whenever we go anywhere or do any activity. Claire never complains and is always so loving towards him, but this was a great chance for just the two of us to spend some time together and enjoy a pre-Christmas treat. It was a fabulous film and a great event all round, everyone was so friendly and welcoming.”

Claire agreed, saying she did not know much about Paddington before seeing the film: “But now he’s one of my favourite characters. It was really good.”

The movie, which tells the story of the adventures of the loveable bear, who was born in Peru and travelled all the way to London’s Paddington station. It features BAFTA winning actors Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent, as well as Dr Who star Peter Capaldi and Little Britain’s Matt Lucas. Ben Wishaw who starred in James Bond film, Skyfall, provides the voice of Paddington.

Other people nominated by their communities to receive tickets included the crossing patrol ladies outside Millfield Primary School, who “go above and beyond” in their mission to ensure the safe passage of their young charges on their way to and from school.

Also among the lucky cinema goers were members of the First Wilnecote Girl Guides and the Sacred Heart Cubs, led by Akela Andy Hitchings.

All the nominees were presented with their tickets by Father Christmas when they arrived at the cinema on Saturday and they were congratulated by local dignitaries including the Mayor.

Open daily, Ankerside is home to 60 stores, from fashion, health and beauty to services and food and drink, and has more than 700 parking spaces. More details at www.ankerside.co.uk