THE 21ST anniversary of The ScottishPower/Trinity Mirror Cheshire Your Champions Awards “came of age” last Friday.
The exceptional event, unique to the region, has come a long way since the first ceremony of 1987 gave recognition to our unsung community stalwarts.
This was a night when the spotlight turned away from the celebrity culture of Oscars, Baftas and MTV Awards and shone brightly on real people – on real heroes.
Senior ScottishPower executives and Trinity Mirror Cheshire editors joined dignitaries, VIPs and former Liverpool FC footballer Ian St John at Chester’s Crowne Plaza Hotel to pay tribute to the brave, dedicated, unheralded people who selflessly work to help others.
Ian St John said: “I am so pleased to be here. It’s a terrific event and a true eye-opener as football tends to shield you from what goes on in the real community.
“Believe me, everyone here deserves a prize. Everyone in this room is a champion. All your stories are wonderful and heart-warming, but some are also heartbreaking.”
Guests were welcomed by Richard Tasker, head of customer contact at ScottishPower, and Warren Butcher, managing director of Trinity Mirror Cheshire and North Wales.
Mr Butcher said: “It gives me great pleasure to chronicle all your achievements.
“It’s you that make events like these possible but you see yourselves as just normal people and that’s what makes you all so special.”
Richard Tasker added: “We’ve been involved with the Community Champions awards for the last 20 years and have seen the event go from strength to strength.
“Quite often the unsung heroes are the people who don’t want to be recognised but it’s important communities and businesses do recognise the good work they do.”
The Chester Chronicle’s regional winners were headline grabbers by scooping two overall category trophies.
Bishop Heber High, based in Malpas, was declared Overall Champion School of The Year and Chris Piercy from Blacon was announced Overall Sporting Champion of The Year 2008.
