IF anyone deserves a bit of good luck, it's Dennis Andrews.

The pensioner's run of bad fortune began in December when he caught swine flu.

A few weeks later he needed an operation on his ear for skin cancer. Then a break in the Algarve turned into disaster when his wallet was stolen.

And, after all that, the 86-year-old arrived back in Nottingham to find his home had been burgled.

But Dennis' thoughts are still with others through his work as chairman of Nottingham Elders' Forum.

Now, he and secretary Glenise Martin have been nominated for a Reach Out community champions' accolade in recognition of their tireless work.

They helped to found the forum in 2006 to advise Nottingham City Council on policy-making for the elderly. Meetings are held at the Council House four times a year.

In four years, membership has grown to 1,800 and the group has campaigned on local, regional and national issues.

Dennis, from Mapperley, a retired director of the world's largest distillers, said of the nomination: "It's a tribute to the organisation. We have always attempted to run it professionally."

Glenise, 73, of Sherwood Rise, said it had come as a "lovely surprise".

One of the forum's biggest coups was organising St George's Day celebrations, a three-day festival, in Old Market Square in 2008 and last year.

The forum's office in Friar Lane, Nottingham, is open five days a week. Until Dennis became ill, he and Glenise often found themselves working seven days a week.

She said: "We soon started to find out one of the worst things for older people was loneliness. When they get to their 70s, two-thirds find themselves on their own. They are often frightened about going out and then they get depressed."

So the forum runs a weekly tea dance at Sherwood Community Centre and a monthly luncheon club. There are also two trips a month; coming up are visits to Saltaire village in Yorkshire, a conducted tour of Derbyshire and Spalding tulip festival. Social events include an Easter bonnet parade on April 3.

The forum produces a bi-monthly newsletter, the Elders' Echo.

Glenise said: "We send everyone a birthday card. Very often it's the only one they get.

"We also have cards if someone is poorly or widowed so they know someone cares."

The forum, which became a charity two years ago, is run by volunteers.

Glenise, who has two grandchildren, explained: "There is a need for it and I care for people. There are some lovely people and they appreciate what you do."

The pair were nominated by Gordon Cox, 67, and his wife, Alma, 71, of Woodthorpe.

Gordon said: "The work they do is very dedicated. Dennis has had a bad time but we're not nominating him out of sorrow. This is motivated by the work they do. We so admire what they do for us."

The awards are run by the Evening Post and BBC Radio Nottingham in recognition of Notts' unsung heroes.

lynette.pinchess @nottinghameveningpost.co.uk