Our Heroes!

Applause echoed to the rafters as 11 community heroes stepped up to receive their accolades last night at the glittering climax of the Telegraph & Argus's Bradford's Best awards.

An audience of 400 guests at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford saluted the winners of our 11 community awards - as well as all the other deserving nominees.

From good neighbours who spend their time running errands for others to groups which rely entirely on volunteers to help the needy, the district's unsung heroes were for once firmly in the limelight.

Perry Austin-Clarke, Editor of the T&A, told the audience, made up of award-winners, invited guests and celebrities, that the idea of the Bradford's Best initiative had been to do something to help Bradford feel better about itself.

"The more we thought about it, we felt there could be no better way of bringing this Millennium to a close than by reminding people across the district just how much Bradford has achieved and how much it can achieve in the future," he said.

"By highlighting its glorious past and recording its remarkable present, we also felt it was the perfect way to set the tone for the thrilling future our children face in the bright new dawn of the next Millennium - not least in its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008."

The evening attracted a galaxy of VIPs including Bradford's Lord Mayor Councillor Harry Mason and Lady Mayoress Councillor Christine Mason, Bradford City manager Paul Jewell, former world snooker champion Joe Johnson, internationally-renowned pianist John Briggs, JB Priestley's son Tom, cricketing legend Brian Close, Olympic hockey medallist Jill Atkins, boxing champion Bobby Vanzie, Bradford Bulls coach Matthew Elliott and captain Robbie Paul and TV presenter Harry Gration.

But pride of place went to the unsung heroes who rarely make the headlines.

Mr Austin-Clarke said: "If there is one characteristic for which the people of Bradford and district can be proud above all others, it is their generosity.

"Not just the sort of generosity which year after year swells the coffers of charity appeals like Manorlands, Marie Curie and, of course, the Millennium Scanner, but generosity of spirit, the kind of spirit which sees countless groups and individuals selflessly giving thousands of hours of their time to help the community, to help friends, to help neighbours and strangers alike, to help those less fortunate than themselves."

Mr Austin-Clarke also paid tribute to the generosity of the businesses and organisations in Bradford which had supported the Bradford's Best initiative. These included Bradford & Bingley Building Society, Grattan, Provident Financial, Yorkshire Building Society, Diamond Seal, Yorkshire Water, British Gas, Filtronic, Bradford College and Bradford and District Training & Enterprise Council, each of which sponsored an award, and Sunwin, which sponsored the gala evening itself.

Mr Austin-Clarke said the pages of the T&A had been filled over the past year with stories of success and achievement which should bring a swelling of pride to the chest of even the most hardened cynic.

And as guest presenter and Bradfordian Christa Ackroyd, of Yorkshire TV's Calendar programme, detailed the heart-warming achievements of those who had been shortlisted, that pride swelled to bursting point.

One of the winners, Susan Crow, of Bradford Talking Magazines, was in tears as she stepped onto the stage to collect the prize for the Best Community Project for the Disabled.

And others were visibly overwhelmed on learning that they had won an award.

Lori Michaelis, named as Best Citizen in the voluntary sector for 42 years helping others in the city, said she was shaking as she stepped up for the presentation and even told Christa that she was worried she might faint on the stage.

"You can do that later when you get home," joked the presenter.

Winning organisations received £4,000 to plough back into their projects, and winning individuals took home a £2,000 holiday plus £500 cash.

But the award winners were not the only ones who found the whole evening highly charged with emotion - Yorkshire TV weather girl Debbie Lindley said she had been very moved to hear of the efforts of the nominees.

"We have been driven to tears hearing about the amazing things that these people do. It's been a fantastic night," she said.

And Christa, who was born in Idle, Bradford, said she was proud to host the gala night.

"An event like this makes you realise how many ordinary people are achieving extraordinary things," she said.

"When you live in a city all your life you think you know what makes it tick. This has made me realise you just don't know the half of it."

Earlier, Richard Whiteley, presenter of the cult TV quiz show Countdown, gave a speech paying his own personal tribute to the qualities of his home city of Bradford that made it such a special place.

"This is a very important occasion and it's a huge honour for me to be asked to say a few words," he said.

"Whenever I am not in Bradford I always talk about Bradford and I am very proud to be able to do so.

"It's about ownership. Some of us can do our bit about Bradford because we are in the public eye but all of us here are here because we feel we own a bit of Bradford."

Lost for words, but the big smiles said it all

Beaming smiles lit up the faces of our Bradford's Best winners.

And every last one of them was magnanimous in their praise for their fellow nominees.

Inspector Martin Baines, of West Yorkshire Police, who won the Best Citizen award in the public sector category, was typical when he dedicated it to his colleagues in the force.

"What I would like to say is that I hope this award really reflects on the hard-working rank-and-file officers right across Bradford," said Insp Baines.

"In my view we've got the best police force in the world here in Bradford and every one of them is making a difference to people's lives every day."

Fred Hall, winner of the Best Neighbour award, said: "It's been a fantastic event. I was very surprised when I was nominated and I can't believe it now I've won."

Each award carried with it a generous prize - but for many, winning meant far more.

Gill Needham, a teacher at Belle Vue Boys' School, said she was thrilled for the sixth formers who won the Best School Community Project award for the youth club they have set up.

"I am absolutely delighted. It's wonderful for the boys. I am so proud of them," she said.

"It's tremendous and this will make the world of difference to the community and to the boys." Trevor Foster, Bradford's own Mr Rugby League, said: "I'm really thrilled with this honour. It's wonderful to see so many achievers gaining the recognition they deserve."

The usually-ebullient Susan Crow was almost speechless when she stepped up to receive the Best Community Project for Disabled on behalf of Bradford Talking Magazines.

"I'm amazed. It's not often it happens but I was literally lost for words when I won.

"This award is really for all my volunteers. I had about ten of them ringing me in the morning telling me that they were keeping their fingers crossed for us and wishing me good luck."

John Tempest, of the Bradford Soup Run, winner of the Best Community Group award, said the prize money was enough to keep the Soup Run in funds for another three months.

He said: "This award is an acknowledgement of the spirit of the people of Bradford and the support they have shown for the Bradford Soup Run.''

Chris Holland, of the Bradford and Bingley, winners of the Best Community Business Contribution, said he was delighted with the whole event.

"If you can put something back into the community, it's part of doing business," he said.

Co-ordinators at the Northcliffe Project were over the moon to have won their award for Best Community Environment Project.

Suzanne Longley said: "It's fantastic - it's been a great evening. People on the project have worked so hard and we've had such a lot of support."

And 86-year-old Lori Michaelis couldn't believe it when she won the Best Citizen Award.

She said: "I'm very, very pleased, but I can't believe it. It's just a pity that none of my family are here to see this."

Proud to be part of a special city

By Mike Priestley

It was an occasion that every Bradfordian should have been there to experience.

A night dominated by one positive emotion which overwhelmed any negatives they might sometimes feel about their city.

That emotion was pride.

The air was buoyant with it at the Cedar Court Hotel as Bradford celebrated the good things and the good people which make it such a special place.

It was a wonderful, local occasion, even down to the menu, which featured Nidderdale lamb bought from a butcher in Keighley, and Yorkshire curd tart with lashings of gooseberry sauce.

The people of Bradford rose to the occasion elegantly, packing the place with dinner jackets and posh frocks.

The message came across loud and clear: this is no city on its uppers or in terminal decline, but a city with style, talent and commitment which was just waiting for the boost to its self-confidence that this celebration supplied.

Enthusiasm was everywhere: from the applause which greeted the vibrant opening performance by the youngsters of Idle-based Stage 84 to the late-night dancing to the sounds of Bradford band Three Men And A Bass.

And in between came that growing tidal wave of pride as the announcement of every award was preceded by accounts of the achievements, dedication, self-sacrifice and compassion of those who had been nominated: most of them "ordinary" Bradford people who are doing extraordinary things that put most of the rest of us to shame.

Some of their stories, told by local lass Christa Ackroyd, brought a lump to many a throat.

Their marvellous work on behalf of others or for the benefit of the community spanned all racial boundaries and covered every generation.

The oldest person honoured was 91, the youngest seven.

This city, like others, is troubled by some members of its younger generation, but this gala night showed the other side of the coin.

There are safe hands there, too, to see to Bradford's future.

Bradford's Best were on parade last night to prove, in the sort of grudging praise for which Bradfordians are notorious, that we're really not all that bad after all.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.