A SELFLESS public servant and former firefighter has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for his work helping others.

Les Nicoll, of Deanes Close, Dovercourt, has spent 47 years working for Essex Fire Service and is chairman of the Harwich Food Bank.

He said he was stunned to be shortlisted for the Guardian Public Servant of the Year Award, which recognises excellence across public services.

Mr Nicoll, 65, said: “I received an email from the Guardian saying I had been shortlisted to the last five and was told it was my line manager in the fire service who had nominated me.

“It is lovely and I am trying hard not to get big-headed.

“I was stunned. I wasn’t expecting something like this at all.”

Mr Nicoll has worked for the last four years as a community builder, promoting support and safety for vulnerable people and forging links with other local services.

“I don’t ever feel proud of my job. I feel lucky,” he said.

“I cannot believe the fire service pay me to go to around and engage with people, offer support and promote safety.

“It is even better than firefighting, which I did for 37 years.

“When you’re a firefighter you meet people at their worst moment.

“This role enables me to make things better, deal with people directly and see the changes we are able to make.”

The nomination highlighted the work Mr Nicoll has done in Jaywick, where he has twice knocked on every door in the town to give fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms.

As a result he has supplied and fitted over 300 homes with free alarms.

Particular praise was directed to his work with the Winter Warmers initiative, an annual drive for donations of warm clothes for people living in poverty.

Mr Nicoll also chairs Harwich Food Bank based near Morrisons’ car park in Parkeston.

Karen Nicoll, Mr Nicoll's daughter, said: "So many people have been helped in one way or another by Dad.

"One thing that is obvious is that Dad never sees it as a task or a chore, he feels he is just helping people because he is lucky enough to be happy and comfortable in his own life.

"When he was recently nominated for the Guardian national award he seemed to go viral on social media, people sharing and voting for the man that has made a difference.

"I had people contacting me with stories of why they voted and how he helped their family, something our family is always so proud of."

She added: "When asked how he does it, I guess it's a combination of compassion, reliability, pride and a definite dose of stubbornness to get results.

"There are many people that are so grateful to "Big Les" for his efforts not only in the local community but in wider areas of the county.

"I am certainly so proud of Dad and from seeing how tirelessly he works I believe he deserves the recognition of the award.

"He inspires so many people, including myself. 

"If I can do a fraction of the work he does to help people then I believe I am thanking him in a way he would want - for being an amazing role model to me and so many people around him."