Bridgend Pcsos Help Grant Six-Year-Old Cancer-Sufferer’s Birthday Wish

Two Bridgend PCSOs helped grant the birthday wish of a local youngster, when they arranged a special behind-the-scenes visit to the custody suite at Bridgend Bridewell. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police-mad Iestyn Baldwin is currently undergoing treatment for Leukaemia, and was facing the prospect of spending his sixth birthday in hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PCSO Emma Watkins spotted a social media appeal from Iestyn’s auntie, which asked if anyone could help make a police visit a reality and, along with colleague Rhys Jones, quickly put the wheels in motion. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alongside Sergeant Mike Davies, the duo paid Iestyn a visit at his home where they invited him to join them at the police station the following week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dressed in his beloved police costume, Iestyn, his mum Anna Baldwin and step-father Sunny Chagger, were given a police escort to the custody suite at Queens Road Police Station, where he was greeted by Chief Superintendent Stuart Parfitt. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Iestyn, who also suffers with autism, was then whisked off to be ‘booked in’. After being measured, he had his fingerprint and footprints taken, visited the custody cells, and took part in an ‘interview’ with Custody Sergeant Jon Richards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And to make his visit extra special, police dogs Spud and Amber also dropped by with handler Sergeant Andrew Patterson, before he was taken to visit the horses at the mounted police section. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mum Anna, 32, said the day had been a dream come true for her brave son, who was returning to hospital later the same day to undergo a further round of chemotherapy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Iestyn was only discharged from hospital two days before his birthday, and his favourite present was his police costume. He hasn’t taken it off. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“His auntie posted something on Facebook asking if anyone was able to arrange a visit from the police as a treat as he’s been through so much. When Emma got in touch, we were all chuffed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The whole experience has been fantastic and it’s really made his birthday a special one.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PCSO Watkins said: “When I saw the appeal, I knew we had to do what we could to help, and I’m really grateful to the colleagues who helped make it happen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Iestyn thoroughly enjoyed the visit – the look on his face was priceless. The visit took place on my final shift as a PCSO before I start my PC training, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end that part of my career.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PCSO Jones added: “It was a pleasure to be a part of making Iestyn’s dream come true. He seemed to have a great day, and it’s really given him a boost during what is bound to be a really difficult time for him and his family.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​