I would like to thank everyone who took part in Pride of South Holland Awards this year.
Without the nominees and sponsors we simply couldn’t have done it without you.
Firstly a huge thank you to all of our sponsors, without whom, none of this would have been possible.
Coun Harry Drury, Rob Gibson, Manzur Hassan, Glynis Scalese, Elizabeth Sneath, Gary Taylor, Will Naylor on behalf of Bakkavor, Paul Watkins-Grove EMG and Natasha, Andy Molsom, Molsom Optometrist, Darren Sutton, Charmed Interiors. Simon Stone and Julie Atkinson, Springfields Outlet Shopping, Julia Cole, Calthrops Solicitor, Graham Boor, Hughes, Country Court Care, Jake from Welland Print, your support made this whole awards ceremony possible.
To all those wonderful people who came on the day after being shortlisted, thank you for making this event so special, some of you may not have won anything, but you’re role made you all winners.
Thank you to Flowers ‘N Things and Butters for providing floral displays, especially for the stage. South Holland District Council for your support, Diamondz Dance and Sam Graper and the choir for their performance during the event.
Thank you to the wonderful cadets from Holbeach, seeing them march in with the Standard Bearer, with our guests and Colin Thackery was just amazing and very moving. Thank you Peter Savory for helping to make this happen with the cadets.
Thank you to Gan from The Woodlands who looked after us all when going through the hard task of picking the winners.
Without winners there wouldn’t be an awards ceremony, excellent winners in every category.
Thank you to; Bert Wright, winner of Caring Neighbour, Nicky Andrew winner of Service with a Smile, Mollie Briggs winner of Young Achiever, Susan Sullivan winner of Senior Citizen Award, Butterfly Hospice, winner of Charity Worker, Peter Boekestyn winner of Community Hero, Frank Heinrich-Tiller winner of Volunteer of the Year, The Lighthouse Church, Marion & Chas Sandhu, winners of Special Achievement, Halmer Harriers winners of Community Sports Group, Tonic Health Charity, Michael Morris, winner of Bakkavor Local Charity champion & Gosberton House Academy, winners of the Before & After School Activities, your success will inspire us for another successful year.
Please think of others and start sending in nominations for them NOW, don’t wait till next year and forget all about it, we all know someone, nominate them and be proud of them next year.
My sincere thanks to my celebrity, Chelsea Pensioner, Colin Thackery who won Britain’s Got Talent 2019, for handing out the awards and ending the show with two of his favourite songs, one which he won BGT, Love Changes Everything and the finale song We’ll Meet Again.
He sang the finale with the help of the sponsors, Diamondz Dance and Sam Graper’s Holbeach Academy Choir.
Colin deserves a special mention for helping to present the awards in a style befitting a Chelsea Pensioner and soldier, what an honour to have him there, many having to get their hankies out after listening to him sing.
A special thanks must go to the amazing team from the South Holland Centre, you were all so supportive and I couldn’t have done it without you on the day, the technical team from the South Holland Centre went beyond the extra mile, we take them for granted and don’t realise what they do for everyone behind the scenes, thank you to you all.
Another big thank you must go to our photographer, Nigel Chapman, who came in at the last minute and supported me by taking pictures of the winners and the finale thank you so much Nigel.
Thank you to Mandy at Butters for helping me as she has done the last five years, with plants to decorate the stage and to Flowers & Things for the beautiful floral arrangement that adorned the table with the trophies.
To Chris Carter for your help and support on the day, he didn’t know the celebrity but was pleased to be able to shake his hand, so helping me and standing for two hours was all worth it!
A massive thank you must go to Abbi who must have worked so hard with the girls who entertained us, what an amazing performance and so well with the theme of the afternoon. Also to Sam Graper and the Choir who were beautiful and we could all see the audience singing along to the songs they were singing. Thank you girls you were amazing as always.
I can’t go without thanking Coun Anthony Casson who also went above and beyond for me, working behind the scenes helping in whichever way he could. Thank you, you have been a real friend.
My final massive thanks has to go to Tom and The Voice, I certainly could not have completed everything if it wasn’t for Tom. All the changes that were made along the way and all the help and support you gave me, thank you.
It’s been a pleasure working with you all, I hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did, I look forward to next year when we can do it all again!
Please if you won something and feel proud to have been on the stage receiving your award, get your pens out now and think of someone to write about who has done so much in our community. You were all winners today.
Jan Whitbourn
