22

Honouring those who deserve it

T
his Sunday the countys bravest, most selfless, talented, caring, innovative and inspiring men, women and children will take over Brightons Theatre Royal for the annual Argus Achievement Awards ceremony. For one glittering evening we will celebrate the greatest asset of this wonderful county we live in you. Newsreader and Argus Appeal patron Nicholas Owen will present 19 awards on the night celebrating everything from the best teachers and school to those who have contributed the most to sport, culture and of course Sussex. Earlier this year we asked you to send in your nominations for the various categories. You responded in your droves and we have spent the last few weeks sifting through hundreds of entries. Our judging committee, made up of editor Michael Beard and our sponsors, then selected their winner and two runners up for each category, all of whom will be invited to the ceremony. This supplement is your invaluable guide to our finalists. So please take the time to read through some of the inspiring stories which have made the cut this year. Take heart at the courage shown, take belief in the innovation and can do attitude and take hope in our entrants constant efforts to make the world a better place. Who knows, next year you may find yourself in this supplement.

The Argus, Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Nicholas Owen at previous Argus Achievement Awards

List of nominees
Patcham High School Moulsecoomb Primary School Rudyard Kipling Primary School Hillside School Saltdean School Portslade Aldridge Community Academy Dorothy Stringer SchoolWendy Russell Forest F.C Sadie Mason Jo Ashworth & Ed Bartram Brighton Handball Team Whitehawk FC Moulsecoomb Boxing Club Jadey Richardson Charlie GriceBernie and Erne Taylor Mr & Mrs Merrington Susan Groves Raymond Freeman Lisa Ross Shaun & Darran Saunders Laura Davy-Thomas Phillippa Davies Marjorie Cozens Susan Svenski Sophie Jordan

Congratulations to all the individuals and organisations below who were nominated for The Argus Achievement Awards 2013
The Phoenix Stroke Club ALALA Mind Brighton & Hove Worthing Churches Homeless Project Active Sussex Guild Care Sussex Police Charitable Trusts Team Miniclick Saltdean Lido Summer Fun Day Freddy Smile Family Fun Day Worthing Churches Homeless Project Art Event 2013 Ed Bartram (Sussex Sport Awards) Steph King (Charity Auction for MIND) Brunswick Festival Kemp Town Carnival Duncan Baker Brown The Big Lemon HiSbe Magpie Co-operative Cat Fletcher Eco-Tech Show Stanmer Organics Thomas Milne Ethan Holmes James Mortimore Christelle McCracken Anthony Booth Tom Woodward Amy McLellan Heather Fensom Anna Al Bezra Mark Brady Alison Tighe Tom Dowds Chris Pate Michelle Stokes Rottingdean Writers Group Tom Odell Dr Roy Wales Soundcity Peter Chivers Black History Core Group Julian Caddy Brighton Fringe Herstmonceux FC Julian Caddy Tom Woodward Tom Odell Caroline Lucas Save Exeter Street Hall Team Paul Kemp Sandy Austin Welfare Rights Team Carelink Plus ru-ok? Young Person's Substance Misuse Service Rob Greenland Eastbourne RNLI BEACH BEACH- Kirsten Trussell Carer Support Service Sandy Austin Gaynor Worthington Karris Terry Amanda Lane Dave Gilmour Susan Svenski Trevor Weeks Lorraine Snow Tasleen Carstairs Jeanette Eason Ryan Walshe Cliff Livingstone Michelle Guyatt Kelly Street Nigel Whitely Rachel Chitty Susi Oddball Cecile Stheeman Dickie Nobbs Kieron James Jill Collins and Charlotte Tripp Tom Dowds Nigel Lambe Paul Foster Michaela Twaits Sandy Austen Anne McLaren Connor Saunders Ellie Poulton Tom Dowds Cecile Stheeman Alison Gray Lucy Jacques Peter James Anita Roddick Matt Prior Adam Trimmingham Simon Fanshawe Ethan Holmes Keira Royds-Jones Benefict McAlister Harry Freeman Hope Jeffcoat Lauren Gander Sophie Jordan

Allison Fackrell Charis Radwell iCrossing The Hampden Arms The Romans Pub Family Investments The Happy Start Up School Shoshana Plail Donna Keenan The Bevy Able and Willing Downs View School Home Start Worthing and Adur Freddysmile Children's Cancer Charity Chichester Area Smile Sussex & Kent M.E.C.F.S.Society Paws Animal Sanctuary Rise UK Trevor Sorbie (My New Hair) Sussex ME Charity Oyster Project Fun In Action for Children Sussex Community Foundation Anthony Pilcher Bone Cancer Trust Colin Barton Dolphin House Children's Clinic The Connor Saunders Foundation

Local Hero of the Year

ALISON GRAY
SHE has been described as an all round good egg who doesnt let her disability get in her way. Alison Gray had to move into social housing in Hove about two years ago after an accident in 1998 left her needing surgery on her spine. She is registered disabled and has severe mobility problems. The 58-year-old said: Ive been through times when I couldnt move for days. I came out the other end and realised you have two options sit in your chair and think about what you can no longer do or think, OK, I cant do that but I can do this. Alison is using her own experience and difficulties navigating the system to help other disabled people access the funding and care they are entitled to. She is also the chairman of the Clarendon and Ellen Residents Association and organises the community payback team to do jobs in the area every Friday. Her other community roles include chairing the Tenants Disability Network and helping to develop Brighton and Hove City Councils contractors recruitment policy to get the best deal for tenants. As if that wasnt enough to take on, she has organised a discount deal with a company which makes locks for disability badges. She is now trying to set up communal wi-fi and is working to get energy monitors to loan out to households. She also looks out for a disabled neighbour, acting as a Care Link Key holder if she needs help or assistance.

CECILE STHEEMAN
TO fill her time when her husband passed away, Cecile Stheeman took herself to the Eastbourne Association of Voluntary Services. She had driven past the centre several times from her home Blackwater Road on the way to the doctor with her husband. After a 20-minute interview, to her surprise, she was offered a job at the centre itself. Now 19 years and 10,000 hours on, the friendly face and warm greeting on the reception desk at the centre now the rebranded 3VA is still going strong age 80. Colleague Matthew French said: We have worked out that Cecile has volunteered approximately 10,000 hours of her time in supporting 3VAon a completely voluntary basis. Cecile is one of our team of volunteers who offer a friendly face and warm greeting to visitors at our reception, help set up and run our events in support of other voluntary and community groups and is generally a joy to have around the office. She always wears a great smile and is well known by a great many of the hundreds of community groups from across Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden that use our support services for her genuine greetings in person and over the phone. We are extremely grateful to Cecile for her continuing support and we threw a party for her during Volunteers Week to mark her birthday and her many years of voluntary service.

LUCY JAQUES
LUCY Jaques is about as inspirational as they come. The deaf blind teacher set up her own teaching company to help others in a similar position. She is no stranger to award ceremonies having been name South East Teacher of the Year and shortlisted for national Teacher of the Year at the 2013 Signature Annual Awards. Former students, who put her forward for the Argus Achievement Award, described her training as both unique and inspiring. Jim Edwards, who nominated her for the award, said: Lucy is a fantastic advocate, working tirelessly to promote and facilitate a more accessible society for deaf and deaf blind people. The obstacles which she has overcome to achieve this level of success is incredible.