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.
Firstly a huge thank you to all of our sponsors, without whom, none of this would have been possible: Couns Gary Taylor, Paul Redgate, Harry Drury, Jack Tyrrell, Manzur Hasan, Glynis Scalese and Elizabeth Sneath; Will, Mo, Sue and the team from Bakkavor; Andy Molsom, Molsom Optometrist; Simon Star & Julie Atkinson from Springfields Outlet Shopping & Festival Gardens; Julia Cole from Calthrops Solicitors; Graham Boor and the team from Hughes and to the amazing Gan from the Woodlands who himself deserves an award for your help and support for your work in the community – 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, you may not have won anything, but your role made you all winners.
Thank you to Flowers ‘N Things, South Holland District Council, Diamondz Dance – who highlighted all the heroes from 2020 during Covid, all wearing different uniforms we saw so much of that year, they did us proud, the wonderful 2430 Holbeach Royal Air Force Air Cadets, performing their duties so well, so proud of all those young people and lastly to Bev and the team at the South Holland Centre for helping to make my job a lot easier on the day, thank you to you all.
Without winners there wouldn’t be an awards ceremony, excellent winners in every category.
Thank you to Amanda Halifax (Caring Neighbour), Michael Rogers (Service with a Smile), Erin Smith (Young Achiever), St John’s Church Drop-in Group (Senior Citizen Award), Graham Hewitt (Charity Worker), Mary Cooper (Community Hero), Maggie Cole (Volunteer of the Year), South Lincolnshire Advanced Motorcycles (Special Achievement) and Boxing Club (Community Sports Group), Little Miracles (Bakkavor Local Community Champion), Spalding Academy School Canteen (After School Activity) and The Wombles winning the Covid 2019 Award, your success will inspire us for the future.
Once again Colin Thackery came to sing as our hero amongst heroes of South Holland.
He sang We’ll Meet Again at the end with a flurry of poppy petals coming down, which made the ending unforgettable, many having tears in their eyes.
My final massive thanks has to go to Richard from The Voice for putting up with me during these last few months, it’s been hectic, to Ben for being right by my side with the photography and Steph Genovese who filmed the whole event which you can purchase from Holbeachfilms @yahoo.com.
It’s been a pleasure working with you all, I look forward to next time when we can do it all again!
Jan Whitbourn
