EC1 Pride in our People Awards - set to honour ‘unsung’ local heroes

Published: 7 May 2010
by PETER GRUNER

UNSUNG heroes – people who have given up time to help those in need – are being celebrated at the annual  EC1 Pride in our People Awards next Wednesday  night.

Competition will be fierce with hundreds of nominations, more than 20 finalists and finally seven prize-winners,  who will be crowned at the glittering event at LSO St Luke’s in Old Street, hosted by BBC newsreader Kate Silverton. 

Mayor of Islington Councillor Anna Berent will present prizes.

Among the finalists for a Lifetime Achievement award is former Lib Dem Mayor,  retired councillor Joe Trotter. 

He is competing with Mary Caven, who has been head of Prior Weston school for 27 years, and is retiring  this year. 

Another finalist is Jackie Morgan, who has worked at King’s Square nursery for more than  30 years.

Three women are competing for the Good Neighbour award: Pamela Buttrick, 67, from Clerkenwell, Frances Potten, 63, and Julie Potton, 52, from EC1. 

Pamela has been described as the “kindest person in Clerkenwell” for visiting people in care homes and hospitals. 

Frances is nominated by her grandson for helping out a neighbour who has been ill by getting her shopping  and taking her to the hospital.   

Julie has provided a “shoulder to cry on” for a local resident and helped see the woman through hard times. 

The three finalists for Local Business of the Year are hair salon Jarrolds, in Old Street,  run by Vilmer 

Jarrold, who works  with school leavers and provides discounts for the elderly at St Luke’s Centre.  

Stand and Deliver,  on the Finsbury estate,  organise the annual EC1 Dog show and buy prizes, and Lovells, a City law firm, provide  free legal work and run  a young people’s debating club at St Luke’s. All winners get a trophy and £50 worth of vouchers. 

Matthew Humphreys, chairman of EC1 New Deal for Communities Board, said it was an opportunity to thank everyone, not just finalists, who have 

been helpful to the community. 

He said: “We will be celebrating all those who have done such tremendous work in the area and offering a heartfelt thank you.” 

Other categories include: Young Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Team of the Year.