COUNCIL NEWS
Pride In Bedford
14 May 2008Public Relations
Heroes and Community Champions of Bedford were honoured at the annual Pride in Bedford Awards.
The awards celebrate the achievements of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Hosted by Trudie Goodwin who played Sgt June Ackland in The Bill, almost 300 people attended including nominees, their friends, family and supporters.
Pride in Bedford is a Bedford Borough Council initiative, which aims to promote local citizenship, working in partnership with other organisations, businesses, residents and community groups, to encourage people to take pride in their local environment.
The awards have been organised by Bedford Borough Council Pride in Bedford Team since 2005 and this is the first organised with Bedford Times and Citizen.
Nominations came in from members of the public in response to appeals in Bedford Times and Citizen, in the paper and on the website.
The finalists came from all walks of life and from all age groups, but they have one thing in common - they are inspiration to us all. Many were nominated because in they have shown great bravery, the ability to care for others above themselves or their desire to improve their community whatever the odds.
All the finalists received certificates, the winners of the night were:
Child of Courage sponsored by ASDAWinner - Jake Brightman
Highly Commended - Rebecca Prosser, Charlotte Daniels, George Kelly, Olivia Whitelock
Best Fundraiser sponsored by The Harpur Centre
Winner - Dennis Taylor
Highly Commended - Michelle Fleming
Young Achiever sponsored by Bedfordshire University
Winner - Sean Denham
Highly Commended – Benjamin Roomes
Adult Achiever sponsored by Audi
Winner – Nigel Thompson
Highly Commended Kyle Bennett Knell
Service with a Smile sponsored by Bedford BID
Winner - Harminder Mahi
Highly Commended - Limes Café
Pat Olney Leisure and Culture AwardWinner - Cauldwell Community Project
Highly Commended - Fusion Youth
Winifred Fowler Services to the Community Award sponsored by BPHAWinner - Future of Kempston Youth Forum
Highly Commended - Amrik Singh Jamu, Guru Nanak Gurdwara
Educational Attainment Bedford CollegeWinner - Phillip Lack
Highly Commended- Elstow Lower School
Hazel Mitchell Environment Award sponsored by JordansWinner - Pamela Stephenson
Highly Commended - Shane Hughes
Helping/ Caring for others sponsored by Park Woodfine Heald Mellow
Winner - Rose Murphy
Highly Commended - George Kelly, Annette Brazenor
Cllr Randolph Charles attended The Pride in Bedford awards event as his last civic function as Bedford Borough Council Speaker. Cllr Charles said:
“The Pride in Bedford Awards reminds us of the compassion, decency and courage, which exists in this town.
I am glad that Bedford Borough Council has worked with Bedford Times and Citizen to make these awards bigger and better than ever.
Many of the finalists were shocked when they found out that they had been nominated because they believed that almost anyone would have done the same, given the same opportunity or challenge.
These awards underline why our town is so special, I think the finalists are an example to us all.”
Finalists Best Fundraiser - Louis Fussell
Young Achiever - Veronica Leone
Adult Achiever - Mervyn Prestell, Iva Barr, Matt Skelton, Kacey Jones, Sue Kumar
Service with a Smile - Great Barford Post Office, D Clarke Butchers
Pat Olney Leisure and Culture Award - Janet Lehain, Bedford Creative Arts, Peter Budek, Frank Nezhadpournia, East Area Thai Kick Boxing
Winifred Fowler Services to the Community Award - Dr John Cordell, Lawrence McDonald, Mervyn Weeden, James Bayliss, Bedford SNAP dance
Educational Attainment - Shalaine Aldis and Peter Day, Sally Whitney
Hazel Mitchell Environment Award - Shalaine Aldis and Peter Day, Anne Dorber
Helping/Caring for others - Jason Long, Tina and Brian Betts, Paul Buckton, Jude Cottam, Robert Bailey