Guernsey’s heroes are celebrated at awards

It was another record year all round, with a total of 240 people and organisations nominated across the 14 categories, who attracted more than 39,000 votes from the public.

Once again the teacher category proved the most popular, with nearly 40 names put forward, but there were also a lot of votes for Bailiwick community hero and the provider of the best customer service.

Mr Falla said the number of nominations and the votes received showed that people had been touched by all of the stories.

‘Some of the top votes in our category have received scores that we’ve never seen before,’ he said.

‘To all our nominees, we as a community are seriously indebted to you. Whether you walk away with the top prize today or not, to quote Dame Mary Perkins: “You’re all winners.”’

But winners there had to be. The teacher chosen out of the dozens of nominees was La Mare de Carteret’s Kiera Vaudin.

As someone who talked for a living, she said she was a bit lost for words.

But teachers did not do their job for accolades, she said: ‘We do it for the children, we do it for our students. One of the best things about my job... is to see students get to where they want to be, or where they haven’t a clue where they want to be but eventually, by the end of Year 11, everybody’s on a path to somewhere that will make them become the right person that they have inside them.’

There were whoops, whistles and cheers as customer service winner Craig Duquemin made his way to the stage to receive his award.

He managed to raise more smiles and laughter with some anecdotes about his time at the restaurant, and how he tried to properly engage with customers.

‘I have an amazing team around me and they allow me to talk, so I’m the one who does less work,’ he said.

‘I’m very lucky to work in this industry and I’m very lucky to work with the team I work with at The Deerhound.’

A moving tribute was paid to the late Jack Honeybill, treasurer of the Guernsey Street Festival, who died recently, by Lydia Sullivan-Pugh and chairwoman Claire Dawson in accepting the award for arts contribution.

‘The Guernsey charity and voluntary sector has lost a giant in the field,’ said Mrs Sullivan-Pugh. ‘Jack, we miss you. This one is for you.’

The last award of the evening was also for the youngest winner, Brooke Doggett, 8, whose grandparents had earlier received their own Pride of Guernsey award as parents of the year.

‘I think you all deserved to win,’ she said after accepting the award.

Winners

Angel of the Year, sponsored by Ravenscroft

Harman Cervales

Arts Contribution of the Year, sponsored by the Guernsey Press

Guernsey Street Festival

Bailiwick Community Hero, sponsored by Vega Technology

Voluntary Car Service

Carer of the Year, sponsored by Specsavers

Tom Falla

Customer Service of the Year, sponsored by Moonpig

Craig Duquemin

Diversity and Inclusion, sponsored by Insurance Corporation

Grow Training Cafe

Emergency Hero of the Year, sponsored by the Medical Specialist Group

St John Ambulance and Rescue Service

Grandparents of the Year, sponsored by the Channel Islands Co-operative Society

Ann and Andy Fallaize

Overcoming Adversity, sponsored by Lloyds Bank

Brooke Doggett

Parents of the Year, sponsored by Leapfrog

Maria and Shane Cosgrove

Sports Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Dominion

Jo Norman

Sustainability Hero of the Year, sponsored by Guernsey Energy

La Societe Conservation Herd

Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Core Fund Services

Kiera Vaudin

Young Achiever of the Year, sponsored by St Pierre Park Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort

Blake Le Ber