The Express honours Your Heroes
A EMOTIONAL audience was brought to its feet on Monday night for the first-ever Express Your Hero awards.
The Express honours Your Heroes
A EMOTIONAL audience was brought to its feet on Monday night for the first-ever Express Your Hero awards.
Community stalwarts, eco warriors, amazing teenagers, top teachers and action groups were among those honoured at the ceremony at Wakefield Town Hall.
It's the first time the Wakefield Express, Pontefract and Castleford Express and Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express have joined together in a bid to celebrate those unsung heroes across the district.
Hosted by writer and broadcaster Ian Clayton there was not a dry eye in the house, as some touching, astonishing and inspirational stories were told to the audience.
And the highlight of the evening was when the 130 guests gave a tearful Alison Drake, winner of the Lifetime Achievement award, a standing ovation.
The awards were in 10 different categories, with five judged by an Express newspaper panel, and five voted for by the public, and all were sponsored by Wakefield Council and NHS Wakefield District.
Click here to find out the winners and runners up in the event, which was sponsored by NHS Wakefield District and Wakefield Council.
Editor of the Express series Mark Bradley said: "Sometimes we take community for granted. Sometimes we think that it has always existed, and therefore always will.
"What we don't always realise is the commitment that goes into making these unselfish efforts.
"The stories of these winners are wonderful, stories of real life, the kind of stories that go on within so many of our neighbourhoods and usually without reward to those involved, other than the satisfaction of a job well done.
"Tonight we salute you, and in our newspapers this week, we will re-enforce the message that the spirit of community is alive and well across our district."
Leader of the Council Peter Box said: "It was a very moving night and I don't mind admitting I had a tear in my eye, Wakefield has so much to be proud of and the council is very pleased to have sponsored the event."
Aln Wittrick, NHS Wakefield District chief executive, said: "It was great to be part of an event that celebrated the good things that are happening in our own community. There were so many moving stories of how local people are working selflessly to make life better for other people. On behalf of the NHS I say congratulations to everybody who took part."
Host Mr Clayton, of Featherstone, added: "It's very heart-warming. I think it's always lovely to know what people across the district are doing. I can read newspapers and listen to the radio news and find out information but meeting people in the flesh is always going to be better.
"You don't always get to know about people like this because they live quietly in their own neighbourhoods. It's lovely to hear about them and to meet them."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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