Basingstoke proves a Place To Be Proud Of

Now in its 14th year, the annual Gazette-backed A Place to be Proud of Awards saw hundreds join together at The Haymarket, in Wote Street, on Wednesday last week to celebrate the incredible efforts of all of the nominees.

Across 10 different categories, stories of dedicated work, new initiatives and amazing sporting feats were told to the astonished audience.

But the excitement didn’t end there.

Two incredible performances from The Basingstoke Academy of Dancing, who will represent England at this year’s Dance World Cup, sparked proceedings into life.

The group displayed their talents and helped round off the evening by showing off their World Cup routine before traditional folk duo Fairfolk bought the curtain down on an exceptional evening.

There was even time for The Steventon Players to reprise a scene from their pantomime Pride And Prejudice, which helped act as a special commemoration for the story’s author Jane Austen – with the 200th anniversary of her death being celebrated this year.

The awards were organised by Destination Basingstoke, the independent non-profit organisation which works with businesses and other partners to promote the town. Felicity Edwards, from the company, paid tribute to the amazing commitment from those nominated as well as to those affected by the two recent terror attacks in the UK.

She said: “Once again we are amazed and humbled by the incredible number and range of nominations from across the community – they truly demonstrate that Basingstoke is a place we can be very proud of, the judges had a tremendously difficult job this year.”

More than 50 individuals and groups were named in the ten categories - Arts and Entertainment, Young Achiever, Health and Care, Basingstoke Ambassador, Sports Hero, Community Project, Unsung Hero, Inspirational Teacher, Judges Special Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Basingstoke Ambassador Award - Kevin Laing

THE “tireless efforts” of Kevin Laing – Basingstoke’s Mr Sport - were hailed on the night. Collecting the Basingstoke Ambassador Award, Mr Laing’s continuous desire to see Basingstoke’s finest athletes flourish, while uniting the borough through sport saw many praise him and his attitude.

Throughout his career, Mr Laing has developed relationships with a wide range of sports clubs to help them develop and promote themselves and has worked hard to give the sporting community in Basingstoke the profile it deserves.

Upon collecting his award from sponsors Face TV and Queen Mary’s College (QMC), he said: “There are so many good sporting people and so much achievement. It’s incredible.

“I often get asked what we put in the water in Basingstoke because our sports people are so good. I say I have no idea but whatever it is it works.”

For nearly 30 years, Mr Laing has been the chairman of Basingstoke Local Voluntary Sports Council and has been organising the annual Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards for more than 20 years.

Paul Friend, director of Face TV, said: “His dedication and enthusiasm for local sport has helped put the town on the map, bringing together the different parts of the sporting community.

“He really is a true Basingstoke ambassador." 

Ali Foss, principal at QMC, added: “Kevin has demonstrated enormous enthusiasm for and commitment to voluntary sports in the town over the past 30 years.”

“His tireless efforts to promote and celebrate the importance of sport have touched the lives of so many, both within and beyond the borough.

“Kevin has without doubt put Basingstoke on the sporting map, brought communities together and given future sporting stars a taste of success.

“Kevin exemplifies what it is to be an ambassador, and he is a worthy winner of this award.”

RUNNERS UP: Beryl Huntingdon, Geoff French CBE

Young Achiever Award - Tom Lovelock

A SELFLESS teenager was commended for his “maturity and empathy” in helping Basingstoke’s homeless population.

Tom Lovelock has spent 18 months dedicated to fundraising and collecting clothes and other valuables for those living on the streets in the borough.

With the support of his family, Tom launched a Facebook appeal to gather much needed items and within weeks he had collected a garage full of vital commodities.

Armed with three car bootsworth of items, including clothes, hats, gloves and blankets, the youngster delivered them to the homeless community.

The Vyne Community School student collected the Young Achiever Award from the award’s sponsors Genevieve Touzin, from Celador Radio, and The Gazette’s Publisher Bill Browne.

Genevieve said: “Despite being too young to volunteer, Tom used his own time and resource to help the homeless and has demonstrated a level of maturity and empathy which is inspirational to both his peers and the local community.”

Mike Sims, former head of editorial at The Gazette who helped choose the winner, added: “Choosing a winner was very difficult as there were several young people who fully deserved the award, but Tom’s hard work and attitude really stood out.

“The Gazette is a massive supporter of young people in the area and we are delighted to congratulate Tom on his award.”

After collecting his gong, Tom told The Gazette: “I don’t expect all of this because I just want to help out but am pleased I got the award.

“I can’t speak for everyone but we all want to try and help people. “It was a stormy night and I was out with my parents and saw some homeless people and just felt I could help them.”

Needless to say, Tom continues to fundraise and help his local community.

RUNNERS UP: Callum Savings, Zander West

Community Project Award - The Night Light Winter Shelter

DURING last year’s freezing winter, one scheme was out on the streets with the aim of helping those without accommodation.

The Night Light Winter Shelter, which boasts a loyal army of volunteers, together with churches close to the town centre, offered rough sleepers in the borough a safe place to sleep and hospitality.

The volunteers provided those on the streets with a warm welcome, conversation, company, a cooked supper and breakfast.

For its incredible work, it was honoured with this year’s Community Project Award.

Julian Chun, director of transition at VIVID – which sponsored the award – praised the project.

He said: “VIVID has first-hand experience of working with customers who struggle with daily activities which many of us take for granted, and the Night Light Shelter has done this for rough sleepers in Basingstoke, making a huge impact in providing a, sadly, much-needed service.

“Responding to the increasing number of rough sleepers, the pop-up shelter provided accommodation for 15 guests, five-nights a week through the winter.

“Each night, guests were provided with a hot meal, a warm bed, a cooked breakfast and a friendly ear.

“By the end of January, 10 of the guests had managed to secure long-term accommodation.

“This pilot project was an amazing collaboration between Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the police, local churches and an army of willing and able volunteers representing the very best of Basingstoke.”

Liz Howe, who has been an instrumental force in helping homeless people in the borough and is one of the leads for the project, said she was “over-the-moon” with the honour but added that there was still work to be done.

She said: “We hope to begin rolling out more projects and are hoping for this to return this winter.

“It’s a service that we shouldn’t have to give, but whilst there are people in need we will continue to help those who need it.”

RUNNERS UP: Monday Music Jam, Greenfingers

Sports Hero Award - Jim Feighery-Murphy

AFTER hundreds of votes from the general public, Jim Feighery-Murphy was crowned as this year’s Sports Hero.

As a competitor, Jim has become one of Basingstoke’s finest after he helped the Su-HarRi men’s team win the Wado International Karate-Do Federation (WIKF) British title and, more impressively, the WIKF men’s team win the English Karate Federation title for the second year running.

As a teacher at the Su-HarRi Club in Basingstoke, he has influenced a generation of upand-coming karate stars.

Felicity Edwards, managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Jim is the life and soul of the Su-Hari-Ri Karate Club.

“He is a true sportsman who dedicates hours to coaching and encouraging younger competitors and is a real inspiration to others.”

Afterwards Jim told The Gazette: “I want to thank everyone who voted for me. I had a few friends of mine who said they voted but I can’t believe this really. I’m a bit speechless to be honest.

“There’s some great things happening with karate in Basingstoke and everyone that I teach is really coming along. I’ll always remember when I first started doing this in March 2002, it’s helped change things.”

RUNNERS-UP: Daisy Coleman, The Amos Family

Lifetime Achievement Award - Geoff French CBE

WHEREVER engineer Geoff French CBE has gone, he has shouted about Basingstoke and what it has to offer.

For more than 40 years, the former civil engineer graduate, who joined Scott Wilson in 1968, has spread the word of the borough, while creating a legacy of work around it.

Rarely does a Lifetime Achievement Award have more relevance than for Mr French.

Since helping to establish Enterprise M3 LEP, where he is chair, he has been chairman of many other organisations such as former employer Scott Wilson.

He was president of the Institution of Civil Engineers in November 2013, the president of FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, from 2011 to 2013 and chairman of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering in 2009.

In collecting his award Mr French joked: “There is something concerning about receiving a lifetime achievement award. It it easy to be an ambassador for Basingstoke – I have lived here for over 40 years so I can see why.”

Felicity Edwards, of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Geoff has had a long distinguished career in business in Basingstoke, and as the chair of Enterprise M3 he has been an important influence on other business leaders and a great ambassador.”

Inspirational Teacher Award - Liiljana Jones

THIS year saw the inaugural Inspirational Teacher Award handed out.

Ten teachers from across the borough made it on to the shortlist, after nearly every secondary school in the borough had one nominated.

But thanks to her “inspiring” style and incisive teaching of foreign languages, Liiljana Jones from The Costello School clinched the award.

Liiljana said: “I keep saying I have got to retire and then I go and look at the children and find out I just can’t retire yet. I can’t give up on them yet." 

She added: “There are so many brilliant teachers in Basingstoke and they all deserve this.”

Described as a “living testimony to the adage that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, Liiljana has been dubbed the heartbeat of Costello House.

She overseen some of the best results for state schools in the county and recently refused to have an operation as it would take place during a crucial teaching period.

The prize was handed out by Cllr Simon Bound, cabinet member for communities and community safety at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council - which supported the award - said: “As a modern foreign languages teacher, Liiljana is devoted to getting the best from her students.

“Her exam results are consistently among the best in the country for state schools and trainee teachers look to her for the very best guidance.

“She is truly deserving of the Place to be Proud of Award as she has proved inspiration to so many language students, both currently and formerly at Costello.

“By sponsoring this award, the council is demonstrating its commitment to the borough’s schools and in attracting the highest quality teachers to inspire our young people.”

RUNNERS UP: Catherine Pettican, Neil Bates, Marcus Rutland.

Unsung Hero Award - Liz Howe

A ‘PASSIONATE’ woman who has helped change the lives of many rough sleepers in Basingstoke was named as this year’s Unsung Hero.

Liz Howe, the motivating force behind projects such as the Night Light Winter Shelter and the Dwelling Place, collected the award for her tireless work in helping those in need on the streets.

As co-founder of the Dwelling Place, she is determined to find a way of providing longer-term supported housing where people can stay until they are ready for sustainable independent living.

She also spent seven years at a Nightshelter as well as running the Night Light Shelter to provide a bed for homeless people during the winter months.

After collecting her second gong of the night, Liz told The Gazette of her plans to continue to combat homelessness.

She said: “We will expand the projects to ensure we can help more people. The problem we are finding most at the moment is getting those people ready to move into their own place, a deposit so they can afford to move out.

“This is the massive issue facing them. But we will continue to work out ways we can support this, because something really has to be done about that.”

She added: “I am really happy with the awards, but I just want to help those in need.”

Steven Connolly, director of Festival Place, which sponsored the award, said: “There were some amazing entries for this category but the impact Liz has had with this project on the community is fantastic.

“Liz works tirelessly amongst the street homeless and the vulnerable in our community, helping them to rebuild their lives on a permanent basis.”

RUNNERS UP: Keith Brown, Tom Higgs

Health and Care Award - The Blue Space

IT HAS been an incredible start to 2017 for the newly formed and crucial male cancer service The Blue Space.

Since opening earlier this year, The Blue Space – a subsidiary of woman’s cancer support organisation The Pink Place – the group has gone from strength to strength, and to cap off an extraordinary six months it was rewarded with this year’s Health and Care Award.

The Blue Space hold monthly evenings for people with cancer and their partners.

During the sessions, trained therapists offer their time voluntarily to offer massage and reflexology free of charge to help combat stress – it allows men to meet others in similar situations, to gain information and build a strong support network around them.

The award was sponsored by BMI The Hampshire Clinic, whose executive director Bruce Robinson presented the prize to The Blue Space trustees Wesley Houston and Natasha Walsh.

Bruce said: “The nominations received were inspirational and the judges found it difficult to choose an outright winner.

“The Blue Space, were selected as winners due to their innovative approach to increasing awareness of men’s health and wellbeing and providing support at a difficult time.

“At BMI The Hampshire Clinic, we are actively involved in supporting both men and women with a cancer diagnosis. Innovative approaches such as The Blue Space are welcome and needed to encourage more men to participate in such groups.”

Natasha added: “We were up against some wonderful competition. The Blue Space is very close to men’s hearts and is a place for everyone with cancer.

“We don’t want anyone to suffer in any way but if we can help we would love to help them.”

RUNNERS UP: Naomi House and Jacksplace, St Michael’s Hospice’s Longstanding Volunteers

Arts and Entertainment Award - THAT Gallery

A “REFRESHING” pop-up gallery in Basingstoke claimed this year’s Arts and Entertainment Award.

Stunned organisers and artists representing THAT Gallery were handed over the glass gong from the award’s sponsor Gladstone Makazh, business manager at the Leisure Park McDonald’s.

Based in Festival Place, the gallery was applauded for encouraging a new generation of artists from various backgrounds to express themselves.

Graeme Farragher, Rachel Davis and Fatima Pantoja are the curators of the gallery who took over two years ago.

Graeme told The Haymarket audience: “Without the backing of everyone we would not have been able make this amazing venture happen.”

Afterwards Rachel told The Gazette: “This award was completely unexpected especially when you have a look at the competition in this field.

“Our goal is to become a community creative hub because although people can come in and look at the art we have to buy, we want to be able to offer more. I think people like this gallery as its not generic and it’s completely unique to Basingstoke.

“We want to give a platform to all artists and have artwork displayed from people with complicated disabilities and mental health challenges.”

THAT Gallery at present hosts more than 40 local artists, but has a waiting list of over 100 other creatives looking to show-off their work.

The company, which is run on a shoestring budget to ensure artists are fairly paid for their work, aims to show that not all galleries are pretentious.

Mrs Davis said: “It just shows you don’t have to go to London to see an exhibition – there’s fantastic art happening right here in our town.”

Gladstone said: “Situated in Festival Place, THAT Gallery is a fantastic pop up gallery which sells original and affordable art. It is providing a real asset to the town.”

RUNNERS-UP: Faye Cottrell - Dance Phaze, Tune for Life

Special Judges' Award - Ready Emmy Walk

ACROSS a year of incredible heroics and selfless work, one story perhaps touched the heart of it’s community more than any other.

When a campaign was launched to raise money for young Emmy King, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia in July 2015, to help her have surgery in America to make her walk, residents in Basingstoke and Deane responded in their thousands.

More than £100,000 was raised in seven months – and now Emmy can walk. In an emotional ending to this year’s A Place to be Proud of Awards, a Special Judges’ Award was presented to Emmy’s family.

Carly King, Emmy’s mother, said: “This is really unexpected. Thank you for this award but really this is for the community who came together to help fundraise for her.

“Without your help this would not have happened. This has changed her life. You have all rallied around her.”

Emmy was born eight weeks prematurely after her identical twin sister, Ava, died in the womb of Twin-toTwin Transfusion Syndrome.

Her cerebral palsy causes her muscle tone to increase in her legs and feet, making them constantly stiff which affects her balance and co-ordination, resulting in simple things such as crawling or even sitting up difficult.

Felicity Edwards, managing director at Destination Basingstoke, said: “Ready Emmy Walk is a truly amazing story of a parent’s fight to provide their child with life saving surgery only available in the US.

“It shows how supportive our local community has been and thankfully Emmy has had the vital surgery she needed.”