Brave Lisa wins Wolverhampton University award

The 40-year-old health visitor was announced as one of the university's two alumni of the year at its Business Achievement Awards at The Molineux on Wednesday.

The award came just a week before the 19th anniversary of the machete attack at St Luke's Infants School in Wolverhampton in which Lisa, now 40, suffered horrific injuries while protecting nursery children.

The George Medal winner, who now has two children of her own, said it was "absolutely fantastic" to receive the award which recognised her work in setting up the Believe to Achieve charity which tackles low self esteem in the city's children.

Lisa, who still lives in Wolverhampton and now works as a community health visitor in the Bridgnorth area, spent four years studying at the university. She was awarded a degree in nursing in 2013 and a one-year BSc in public health last year.

Speaking about the events of July 8, 1996, she said: "It is unbelievable that 19 years have gone by since then,.

Life goes on and you have to keep on believing in yourself to achieve and keep moving on and achieving new things,."

She said she could not wait to show the award to her sons, Alfie, aged 11, and Jude, eight.

She was presented with the award by the university's Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr John Pymm.

The university described her as a true role model who had overcome personal adversity.

Among the other winners on the night were awards hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers who received the strategic business partner award.

The award recognised the football club's expanding graduate internship programme which places university interns in its academy and marketing department.

The university is the main sponsor of the club's academy.