Every year, the Pride of Britain Awards celebrate the nation’s unsung heroes – ordinary people who do absolutely extraordinary feats.
It’s also always a star-studded event with celebrities from all walks of showbiz such as telly, sport, film and music all outdoing each other on the red carpet.
This year the likes of Holly Willoughby, Dame Mary Berry, Martin Sheen, Olly Murs and Christine Lampard have already been snapped looking spectacular and throwing their support behind this belting cause.
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But without further ado, read on to find out about the real stars of the show – the winners of the 2022 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jill Allen-King, 82, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex
(Image: Phil Harris)
Jill was born full-sighted but lost one of her eyes as a baby after contracting measles. She then lost sight in her other eye on her wedding day due to glaucoma.
She has committed her life to campaigning for the blind including allowing guide dogs in more places. Jill was awarded an OBE in 2011, has raised thousands of pounds and has given hundreds of school talks. The mother-of-one was the first woman to become the National Federation for the Blind president.
She said: “I want to sit back and relax, but there is still so much to campaign for. The rights of blind people are continuing not to be considered, so I will keep working to fight that.”
Child of courage, Elizabeth Soffe, eight, Birmingham
Little Elizabeth was just six months old when she was involved in a horrific cot fire while her family lived in Qatar. A dodgy aircon unit caused the blaze and baby Elizabeth suffered third-degree burns over 60% of her body as well as losing fingers, some of her nose and an ear.
The local hospital couldn’t save her so she was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
She spent weeks in a coma, six months in intensive care and had 70 operations.
To thank medics Elizabeth raised £202,000 by running a mile every day for 26 days. Mum Sinead says she is “an inspiration” and “This award means the world to her – and us.”
Elizabeth added: “It doesn’t matter what you look like, it just matters that you’re kind.”
Teenager of Courage, Lucy Montgomery, 15, Armagh, Northern Ireland
(Image: Phil Harris)
Brave Lucy saved her dad’s life and that of a young boy after they got caught up in difficulty while paddleboarding in a treacherous French river.
She was with the son of a family friend when he got swept away by a strong current in the Charente River.
Her dad, who cannot swim, also tried to help but before long he too was dragged into the deep, dangerous water.
Lucy, who was only 14 at the time, somehow managed to swim out and save them both, dragging them to safety.
Exhausted, she was then swept away herself but managed to cling to her paddleboard which eventually drifted back to the river bank.
Lucy’s dad Graham, Graham, a head teacher, said: “I can’t swim and there was a limit to what I could do.
“I have no doubt that Lucy’s quick and decisive actions that afternoon prevented injury and perhaps worse to a frightened child and prevented me from drowning.
“As a family, we couldn’t be prouder to see her recognised in this way.”
Special Recognition – 3 Dads Walking, Manchester, Cumbria and Norfolk
These three dads met under the most desperate of circumstances – they are all the fathers of daughters who took their own lives.
Andy Airey, 61, Mike Palmer, 57, and Tim Owen, 52, became close after meeting throught the suicice prevention charity Papyrus and decided to raise money by doing a sponsored walk between their homes in Cumbria, Manchester and Norfolk.
Mike said: “3 Dads Walking is not a club I want to belong to, but it gives us, as fathers, an opportunity to fight back and maybe make a difference.
“We are all too aware that there are more young people out there falling into despair and seeing no way out other than to end their own precious lives. There is help out there. There is hope and that’s what 3 Dads Walking is about, it’s about hope.”
Outstanding Bravery – David Groves and Alex Harvey, Somerset and Hull
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
These two Royal Navy sailors saved 27 men from a burning ship in nightmarish sea conditions on the way back from a nine-month tour of duty in the Pacific.
They got a mayday call from a 28,000-tonne cargo ship that had caught fire 150 miles from the French Coast.
Both Leading Seaman David Groves, 32, and Able Seaman Alex Harvey, 28, volunteered to save the stranded crew using just an eight-foot inflatable boat.
Towering waves, a collapsed engine and snapped tow ropes all made for an epic rescue mission with both sailors risking their lives.
Commanding Officer of HMS Argyll, Commander Toby Shaughnessy said: “Without doubt this was a near run thing. The conditions were on the limit for recovery and this could just as easily have been a different result.”
TSB Community Hero – Michelle Dornelly, Hackney, London
(Image: PHILIP COBURN)
Michelle helps to feed struggling families in her local community in Hackney, east London.
She created the Hackney Community Food Hub and has fed more than 100,000 people with the help of 100 volunteers including those who are homeless or housebound.
She said: Michelle says: “I know people who have five or six children at home. Furlough has finished and their benefits have gone down. Gas prices have gone up.
“They’re asking me: do I heat the home or fill the children’s bellies and we go cold?
“If you live on an estate you are hidden, you are forgotten about and you are hard to reach.
“So we were going out specifically to reach those people.”
This Morning Emergency Services Award – PC James Willetts and PC Leon Mitto, West Midlands
This pair of brave coppers were wounded in action in a brutal knife attack at a shopping centre in West Bromwich last July.
Two knife-wielding men attacked them in broad daylight and both police officers suffered life-threatening stab wounds – but despite their horrifying injuries still managed to detain the maniacs.
Douglas Marshall of the Crown Prosecution Service said the officers’ courageous actions had saved others from serious harm, averting a potential tragedy.
He said: “The officers unhesitatingly put themselves in harm’s way and through their brave actions the pair were disarmed.
“Given the arsenal of weapons the brothers were carrying, the potential outcome could have been much worse.”
GMB Young Fundraiser of the Year – Tobias Weller, 11, Sheffield
(Image: Phil Harris)
Tobias has raised almost £160,000 for people with disabilities and despite living with autism and cerebral palsy has completed two marathons, an Iron Man and a sponsored walk.
The 11-year-old was even nicknamed “Captain” after his hero Captain Sir Tom.
In December he became the youngest person to be celebrated in the New Year’s Honours List, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his efforts.
His mum, Ruth Garbutt, says: “I’m bursting with pride for what my son has accomplished and I’m delighted that his efforts have been recognised in so many ways.
“We could never have dreamed he might be able to do things like that and he’s done it and that makes me so so proud of him.”
Prince’s Trust Young Achiever of the Year – Alex Anderson, 23, Newport
Alex is the first person with Asperger Syndrome to join the Royal Air Force. He initially applied in 2017 but was rejected due to his condition but with the help of The Prince’s Trust and some rules changes, is now a proud logistic supplier, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.
He has also spent 1,000 hours volunteering to support veterans and the needy across Gwent.
As a Neurodiversity Ambassador for the air force, the 23-year-old said: “I’ve had so many knock-backs, but The Prince’s Trust got me through.”
Special Awards – The Lionesses
Not only did The Lionesses win the Women’s Euros earlier this year, but they also inspired a whole generation of girls to play football and did an incredible amount for sporting equality.
The judging panel selected England’s European champions for the special award for “galvanising” the nation and providing a whole generation with “new role models”.
Lauren Help is one of those Lionesses who will be receiving the award.
The North Walsham football star helped her team to victory back in July of this year with the historic win against Germany at Wembley Stadium.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
