Pride in South Holland

The Pride of South Holland was celebrated on Sunday in a moving ceremony that included a Falklands veteran and prominent Ukrainian politician.

The celebration of the district’s volunteers and community groups returned to the South Holland Centre.

This year it included a moving tribute to Coun Angela Newton led by Lord Gary Porter.

Her husband Alan Porter and cousin Coun Jane Kiing also spoke of her work in the community.

The guest of honour was Simon Weston CBE, the Falklands veteran giving a rousing speech after being marched into the arena by Peterborough Highland Pipe Band point major Robert Warnes and drum sergeant Scott Kornek as well as the 2430 (Holbeach) Squadron of the RAF Air Cadets.

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Two special awards were handed out.

Steve Timewell was presented with an ‘Outstanding Achievement in the Community’ by Lord Porter for his efforts in bringing back the Spalding Flower Parade.

There was also recognition for Mandy Baxter who has set up the Boxes of Hope charity, being the regional lead for donations to Ukraine.

A number of refugees who fled Russia’s invasion were in attendance as was Taras Vorko, Lviv city council deputy.

He spoke to say thank you for South Holland’s efforts in supporting Ukraine and providing shelter for those who had fled the conflict.

Among the big winners were your Bakkavor Local Community Champion Zeph Churchill for her work with the Spalding Singers and the town’s Ukelele orchestra.

Sainsbury’s superstar Angie Stevens is the winner of the Service with a Smile category after wowing her customers narrowly pipping The Chappell Centre staff to the award.

Spalding Grammar School pupil Jack Wheatley was the Young Achiever of the year with Abi Barks the runner up.

The Senior Citizen of the Year Award went to Terry York while the Community Heroes were Julie Collins and Lisa Atkinson who have raised thousands by putting on events in Pinchbeck.

Russell Kirk, also of Pinchbeck, won the charity worker award and Deanne Gough and Andy Tilley of the Long Sutton Wombles were the Volunteers of the Year for their work in tidying in and around the town.

Spalding Academy teacher Ian Billinghurst earned the special achievement award and Long Sutton Athletic the Community Sports Group.

There were also performances from Diamondz Dance and singing group Secreto.

Organiser Jan Whitbourn, said: “Once again it was fantastic to see so many deserving people there and given the recognition they deserve.”

Judges faced incredibly difficult decisions after being swamped from nominations.
But on Sunday, Falklands veteran Simon Weston handed out the awards to these deserving winners.
Every week for the next few weeks The Voice will be running articles on the winners.

They were:

• Caring Neighbour (Sponsored by Couns Peter Coupland and Glynis Scalese) – Sally Gleeson, runner up Rob Cook.
• Service with a Smile (Sponsored by Coun Elizabeth Sneath) – Angie Stevens, runner up The Chappell Centre.
• Young Achiever (Sponsored by Molsoms Associates Optometrists) – Jack Wheatley, runner up Abi Barks.
• Senior Citizen Award (Sponsored by Calthrops Solicitors) – Terry York, runner up Tim Brant -Senior Citizen Award.
• Charity worker (Sponsored by Couns Jack Tyrrell and Jo Reynolds) – Russell Kirk, runner up Lincs Dog Training.
• Community Hero (Sponsored by Couns Henry Bingham and Andrew Woolf) – Julie Collins and Lisa Atkinson, runner up Sutton Bridge Coastguard Rescue Service.
• Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by Coun David Willkinson and Ivan Thompson) – Deanne Gough and Andy Tilley, runner up Tracey Vowels.
• Special Achievement (Sponsored by Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens) – Ian Billinghurst, runner up Pinchbeck Carnival Committee.
• Community Sports Group (Sponsored by Paul Redgate) – Long Sutton Athletic FC, runner up Alex Andrews.
• Bakkavor Local Community Champion – Zeph Churchill, runner up Julie Collins and Lisa Atkinson

Tulip Talk with Jan Whitbourn –

Once again we came to celebrate with many volunteers at the Pride of South Holland Awards 2023.
It has been difficult to keep the secret of the winners, the entertainment and the celebrity this year.
We started with Diamondz Dance opening the afternoon and went on with a dedication to the late Coun Angela Newton for more than 50 years of dedication, volunteering and service in our community.
Lord Gary Porter of Spalding presented Angela’s widower Alan Porter and cousin Coun Jane King, with an engraved vase.
I would like to say a huge thank-you to all of our sponsors, without whom, none of this could be possible, councillors Gary Taylor, Paul Redgate, Jo Reynolds, Jack Tyrrell, Glynis Scalese, Elizabeth Sneath, Peter Coupland, Henry Bingham, David Wilkinson and Andrew Woolf. Ivan Thompson, Clare, Millie, Justin and the team from Bakkavor, Andy Molsom, Molsom Optometrist, Simon Stone and Julie Atkinson and Jackie Sawyers from Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens, Julia Cole from Calthrops Solicitors and to Gan from the Woodlands for his support and kind hospitality as always.
Thank you for all the work you do in our community and support you give to me.
To all those wonderful people who came on the day after being short-listed, thank you for making this event so special.
Some of you may not have won anything, but your role made you all winners.
Thank you to, Flowers ‘N Things, Flamingo Flowers, for helping with the displays on the stage and for the bouquets on the day, South Holland District Council, Diamondz Dance, The wonderful 2430 Holbeach Royal Air Force Air Cadets for performing their duties so well (I’m so proud of all those young people), and to the wonderful piper and drums who marched in with our celebrity, Simon Weston CBE.
Thanks also to Jo, Bev and the wonderful team at the South Holland Centre for helping to make my job a lot easier on the day. I certainly know how hard you all work.
A massive thank you must go to the amazing singers, what a performance they put on which helped to make the finale so enjoyable.
The Awards began with The Lord Porter of Spalding CBE inviting Taras Vorko, City Council deputy from Lviv Urban Council in Ukraine, who had travelled here for the weekend, onto the stage, to speak about the conflict in Ukraine.
Taras talked about the terrible war and how grateful his people are for the help South Holland had given to his country.
Lord Porter thanked Mandy Baxter profusely for the work she has done over the last year, what an amazing lady.
He then went on to present an Outstanding Achievement Award to Stephen Timewell in recognition of his tenacity and drive in bringing back the Spalding Flower Parade 2023.
Without winners there wouldn’t be an award ceremony and there were excellent ones in every category.
Thank you to:
l Sally Gleeson and Rob Cook – Caring Neighbour;
l Angie Stevens and the Chappell Centre – Service with a Smile;
l Jack Wheatley and Abi Barks – Young Achiever;
l Terry York and Tim Brant – Senior Citizen Award;
l Russell Kirk and Lincs Dog Training – Charity Worker;
l Julie Collins and Lisa Atkinson and Sutton Bridge Coastguard Rescue Service – Community Hero;
l Deanne Gough and Andy Tilley and Tracey Vowels – Volunteer of the Year;
l Ian Billinghurst and Pinchbeck Carnival Committee – Special Achievement;
l Long Sutton Athletic FC and Alex Andrews – Community Sports Group;
l Zeph Churchill – Bakkavor Local Community Champion.
Our Celebrity Simon Weston CBE came to celebrate as our hero amongst heroes of South Holland,
Simon spoke about his life and encouraged everyone to work together, volunteer wherever they could and to work as a community.
We couldn’t end the day without a sing-song from singers Secreto, who got the audience singing along as our finale, first surprising three people by singing Happy Birthday to them.
Thank you to Country Court Care and Nursing Home for supporting me with the programs and to Jake from Welland Print for all the work you did with me throughout the last month.
My final massive thank you to Richard from The Voice for everything you did throughout the last few months.