WHILE most of us are tucking into turkey and drinking too much wine on Christmas Day, there are many people who will be grafting at work.

We asked people to send their nominations for unsung heroes, who have given up their time with family and friends to keep things ticking over at work.

Elisha White nominated her dad David Richards, who owns Ridgend Farm, in Wichenford, near Martley, with his dad, John.

John has a milk contract with Waitrose and so will be getting up on Christmas Day at 5am to milk his 300 cows.

“He works long shifts every day, all year round, sometimes not getting in at night until 10pm,” said Elisha.

“Even when he is poorly, he has to work to ensure everything on the farm runs smoothly.”

Working alongside his team, David will start preparing the milking parlour to milk the cows before most of us are even awake on Christmas Day.

Elisha said: “He will be there ‘til 9ish, when he will come up and watch my eager little brother and sister open up their presents from St Nick.

“He won’t rest there though as there will be more jobs to be done down the farm.

“Dairy farmers work really long hours, and all deserve to be recognised for their efforts all year round,” she added.

Leah Knight nominated her hardworking mum, Beverly Knight, who will be working a 12-hour shift on Christmas Day at St Richard’s Hospice, ensuring all patients have a special time.

Gillian Bentley, a carer who will be working on Christmas, nominated all support and care workers, “who very often only get in the paper if something goes wrong”.

She said she and her colleagues “never get into the paper when they do long unsociable hours on little pay, more often than not giving extra for no pay to make sure that clients have a good Christmas”.

Karen Boys nominated everyone at Regent Residential Care Home, in St John’s.

“I will be working Christmas Eve and Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and Day,” she said. “But we are a great team. We all love what we do.”

Michelle Tully nominated all of the staff at the Lawns nursing home in Kempsey and Dawn Phillips nominated her “dedicated” teams of care staff, seniors and managers.

She will be joining them all in working over the Christmas period.

Simon Patrick, a senior support worker, who will be giving up his Christmas and New Year to look after people with learning difficulties, nominated himself, while Natalie Haines nominated everyone at Agincare Home Cuisine, in Blackpole.

Husband and wife team, Vicky and Jon Shaw, are having to ship their two children, aged four and eight, off to their grandparents as they will both be working on December 25.

Vicky works for an airline as cabin crew and is taking a plane full of passengers to and from Tenerife, while Jon is a control room supervisor for a breakdown company and will be working a 12-hour shift.

“I appreciate that these are not jobs that save lives or help people in the community, but we both work in industries that are underrated at Christmas,” said Vicky.

Lisa-Lauren MacLeod nominated her brother Lewis MacLeod, a recovery driver who will be working on Christmas Day.

“He works nights and always ends up working overtime trying his best to help people get home safely,” said his sister.

“So, while we are all warm and cosy at home tucking into pigs and blankets, he will be working hard in freezing conditions in a hardly ever recognised job,” she added.

Joanne Pritchard, social media lead for West Mercia Police Control Room, nominated all her colleagues, who ensure calls are answered 24 hours a day and officers are dispatched.

“Christmas can be a particularly busy time for us and, in fact, New Year’s Eve/Day is normally the busiest day of the year,” said Joanne.

Staying with the policing theme, Helen Hope nominated all of D Shift of West Mercia Police who are working 4pm to 2am on Christmas Eve and then 11pm to 7am on Christmas Day.

Helen’s husband is a shift sergeant, and she said: “All emergency services deserve a massive thank you.”

“They are all facing a ridiculous amount of pressure due to budget cuts but they all rally on and keep the wheel turning.”

Sergeant Brian Simpkins nominated A Shift Response at Worcester Police Station, who on Christmas Day who will be “on duty protecting the good folk of Worcester”.

“At this festive time of year, away from their own families, they will also be attending Worcestershire Royal Hospital’s Children’s Ward and ACORN’s hospice, taking gifts to the children who will not get to spend the day in the comfort of their own home.”

Sue Turner nominated her daughter-in-law Steph Leach who will be delivering babies in Worcester on Christmas Day.

She is also raising funds to go and help train midwives in poorer countries.

Sue said: “We are very proud of her.”

Jemima Shepard nominated all OOH nursing night teams for the NHS.

“I would not say we are heroes, but we do a good job covering a wide area of the community,” said Jemima.

“We cover the whole of the county come rain or shine whatever the weather and 365 nights a year.”

“Although we work for the NHS, we are quite often forgotten about, or some people don’t even know we exist, but we are here and I for one am very proud to be part of an amazing team,” added Jemima.

Finally, Ashley Dipple nominated all bar staff everywhere, Rosie Butcher nominated volunteers helping the homeless have a nice Christmas, and Maya Cockeram nominated both her sons, Josh and Ben Cockeram, will be working on Christmas Day at The Bluebell Farm restaurant.