Last updated at 09:29, Tuesday, 16 March 2010

• Love Barrow Community awards: Video from the award ceremony

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IT was a night that simply made you proud to be part of a community.

In a glittering awards ceremony at the Abbey House Hotel on Friday night, the winners of the Love Barrow Community Awards 2010, sponsored by Barrow Regeneration, were finally announced.

Finalists, their families, award sponsors and members of the judging panel mingled over a sumptuous three-course meal before the awards ceremony kicked off.

It was an event that brought together all sections of the community, as young rock band The Relics and 18-year-old Young Citizen finalist Jonathan Huddleston sipped champagne alongside community stalwarts including Margaret Burrow MBE and Dennis Boyd.

North-West Evening Mail publishing director Jonathan Lee summed up the event in his pre-dinner speech.

Mr Lee said: “What makes tonight so special is that we’re here to celebrate our unsung heroes – those people in our community who make Barrow and the Furness peninsula such a special place to live work and play. Every community is about it’s people, I passionately believe that, and as you will see from the people who you are sharing tables with tonight, the videos you will see, and the speeches you will hear, we are truly blessed in this area.

“Most of all, it’s down to you. It’s every one of you that makes this the place it is. Whether or not you’re up for an award, whether or not you win an award, the biggest thing you should remember from tonight, is that we live in a wonderful community, and through Love Barrow we can make it even better.”

After dinner, drinks refreshed and tissues at the ready, the guests sat down for the awards ceremony hosted by compere Jos Kenley.

Before the winner of each category was announced by its individual sponsor, the nominees’ videos filmed by the Evening Mail, were projected onto a giant screen.

And as the stories were played out to the crowd, it was hard to believe any of the 150 plus guests could fail to be moved, motivated and inspired by this year’s nominees.

First on the podium was Doctor Geoff Joliffe from the Cumbria Primary Care Trust, which sponsored the Carer of the Year Award.

After a short speech, Dr Joliffe announced that Pat Spicer had beaten stiff competition from fellow finalists Mayworth Cain and Helen Clayson to take the prize.

Ms Spicer cares full time for her partner as well as looking after alzheimer’s patients part-time at the Risedale Retirement and Residential Care Home in Abbey Road, Barrow.

Up next it was the Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by the Evening Mail. After a tough decision-making process, the prize was given to joint winners Helen Wiggan, who teaches
martial arts to youngsters, and PE teacher Karen Griffiths.

Miss Griffiths dedicated her trophy to third finalist John Pownceby, who taught her as a youngster.

Accepting the award, she said: “John Pownceby is a real hero in the area and he should be stood up here with us because he’s done a fantastic job. I am from Barrow and I do love Barrow and this evening it’s been fantastic to see so many inspirational people that make this community so special.”

It was up to boxing stalwart Pat Ryan to present the Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, which went to rugby stalwart Chris Reid.

Accepting the prize, Mr Reid paid tribute to fellow finalists Ruth and Phil Haughian and Barrow football veteran Dennis Boyd.

Mr Reid said: “I’d like to accept this on behalf of all the volunteers who put their time into sport throughout the Furness area. I’m always amazed by the amount of sport that’s played in the Furness area and it’s a real credit to all the people in Furness that there’s so many teams in a small compact area.

“It’s something that we should pursue, and keep going, and keep the Furness name alive.”

There was not a dry eye in the house as the videos were played out for the Courage Award, sponsored by The Bay Radio.

The crowd was clearly touched by the stories of Jo-ann Ellis, who lost her five-year-old son to cancer, Cheryl McBain, who has fought for a children’s hospice since the death of her baby son Kai, and Leanne Johnson, who has chosen to have her ovaries and breasts removed to live a long and healthy life for her four children.

When the award was given to Mrs Ellis, the three inspirational women came together on stage for a moving moment.

Mrs Ellis said: “Leanne and Cheryl, this is for all of us girls. And for Jake, my little boy, my hero, this is for you son.”

Mrs McBain also dedicated her runner-up award to baby Kai, and as Mrs Johnson accepted her trophy, she paid tribute to both the brave young Mums who lost their sons.

Next it was time to recognise the achievements of the youngsters of the borough, with the Young Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by the Safer Schools Partnership.

Dedicated young sports volunteer Jemma Bell went head-to-head with 18-year-old police apprentice Jonathan Huddleston and Evening Mail paper boy Myles Whittaker, who was nominated for saving an old lady’s life on his rounds.

Jemma took the trophy, and the stunned teenager got the crowd laughing as she said: “I really don’t know what to say. If I was to thank everyone we’d be asleep by the time I finished.”

The next winner to take the stage was Ruth Mcdonald on behalf of the Barrow Parish Nurse Project. She took the award for Community Group/Project of the Year sponsored by Barrow Regeneration, after setting up the BPNP last year.

Mrs Mcdonald said: “This is totally unexpected, I was so thrilled just to be nominated, and so pleased to win this tonight.

“I just hope that over the next year the project will grow and go from strength to strength so we can touch the community even more.”

Barrow Romanian Action Group and The Relics also accepted runner-up trophies fortheir work in the community.

Margaret Burrow MBE took the Citizen of the Year Award for the many different roles she plays in the community.

She was joined by fellow finalists street cleaner Louis Deelay, and blind society stalwarts Joan Milburn and Irene Crabtree.

As she received her award from Rob Cairns on behalf of category sponsors Furness Building Society, Mrs Burrow said: “I would like to accept this award on behalf of all people in Barrow who volunteer. You all do a good job, and without volunteers we couldn’t do half of what we do in Barrow.”

There was a final surprise in store, as an eighth award for Community Ambassador was announced.

The new category was designed to reward someone who is well-known and respected within the community and spreads their commitment, dedication and passion within Barrow and outside the borough.

A stunned inspector Geoff Steele was presented with the trophy by Chief Constable Craig Mackey, and was given a standing ovation.

Insp Steele said: “I’d just like to thank everybody for nominating me and giving me this award. I’ve been very privileged to work in the town, it’s a wonderful town to work in, full of wonderful people, and I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

After the awards had been handed out, it was down to The Relics to bring the night to a close.

Meanwhile, PC John Irving looked on as he reflected on a fantastic night, and a great set of awards.

PC Irving, who is part of the Love Barrow organising team, said: “It was superb, absolutely superb.

Every nomination we had was superb, the short-listed ones were obviously outstanding, and to be honest, they were all winners tonight.”

First published at 11:33, Monday, 15 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk