The Happy List

Today the Times brings out the list of the 100 richest people in Britain. If you’re one of them and like to read about yourself, fine! If you are not one of them and find it all a little depressing here’s a list that’ll do you some good: The Independent on Sunday Happy List profiles of people who make Britain a better and happier place to live.

A few examples:

John Cunningham; Charity fundraiser Area of excellence: Charity

A retired painter from Durham who has raised more than £1m for charity, walking more than 100,000 miles in the process. He began in 1986 with a 1,000-mile marathon since then he has covered many long-distance walks including Land’s End to John o’Groats. Has also collected for charity at a local supermarket for 29 years.

Clare Parry-Jones; Clown doctor Area of excellence: Mental well-being

Aka Dr Ding Dong. Each week she dons a red nose, purple hair and a giant turquoise stethoscope to administer the best medicine. One of Britain’s longest-serving clown doctors, she visits more than 4,000 children a year, is a specialist and teacher of drama therapy, and adapts her play according to a child’s personality, age and illness.

Megan Blunt; Author and charity campaigner Area of excellence: Mental well-being

A 16-year-old bone cancer survivor, she is the author of ‘Chemotherapy, Cakes and Cancer’, an A-Z guide for children living with cancer which includes tips for treatment and easy definitions of medical terms. As well as studying for her GCSEs she is also a young people’s ambassador for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

If you can’t read this list without feeling better then I respectfully suggest you need some help, or better still, go help someone else it’ll do you good.