YORKSHIRE AWARDS 2005 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Published: 3/12/2005

Yorkshire greats from the field of showbiz, sport, the arts and business are honoured in a star-studded Yorkshire Awards presentation ceremony, held at YTV studios in Leeds on 2/12/05.

The Awards, organised and run by The Yorkshire Awards Committee are now in their 17th anniversary year and involve some of the region’s leading companies and organisations. With the help of the Yorkshire public, the Committee named those outstanding individuals whose examples act as inspiration to anyone with the interests of Yorkshire at heart.

Alongside the award winners, the red carpet will be rolled out for some of the region’s glitterati who will be attending the event, including: Brian Blessed, Nell McAndrew, Linda Barker, Lorraine Chase, Dickie Bird, Chris Chattell, John Middleton, boxer Clinton Woods and four of the original Calendar Girls.

The 2005 Yorkshire Awards winners are:

Richard Whiteley Special Award.
Winner: Sir Paul Fox
This new award is for ‘inspiring others’, as a tribute to the TV presenter, it goes to Sir Paul Fox who was a friend and mentor to Richard throughout his career. It was during Sir Paul´s time as managing director of Yorkshire TV that Countdown was born and Richard became a household name.
Presenter: Kathryn Apanowicz
Award Sponsor: npower renewables

Yorkshire Unsung Hero Award
Winner: Donna Jones
Donna has spent 23 years working with disadvantaged children for the Sheffield Futures Charity whose main aim is to keep youngsters away from drugs and crime and help them into work.
Presenter: Jane Tomlinson
Award Sponsor: npower

Yorkshire Business Enterprise Award.
Winner: Keepmoat plc
This goes to Keepmoat who for years has regenerated countless communities around the UK. The company has refurbished old homes and rundown neighbourhoods to provide social housing and affordable homes.
Presented to: Dick Watson, chairman of Keepmoat plc by Linda Barker
Award Sponsor: Aon Limited

Yorkshire Sporting Achievement Award
Winners: Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard
(neither are available to attend on the night)
After 17 years England´s cricket team finally win back the Ashes so, who better to win the Sporting Achievement award than its captain and its opening bowler - Yorkshire´s own Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard?
Award Sponsor: Yorkshire Post

Yorkshire Arts and Entertainment Personality Award
Winner: Sir Alan Ayckbourn
This goes to a man whose work has been performed throughout the world, but who has never
forgotten his Yorkshire roots. In fact, Sir Alan Ayckbourn still premiers all his plays at the
Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.
Presenting the award: Nell McAndrew
Sponsor: YTV

Yorkshire Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Brian Turner
This award goes to a Halifax lad who graduated from Leeds College of food technology in 1963 and never looked back. He´s now a household name appearing on programmes like This Morning and Ready Steady Cook.
Presented by: Susan Brookes (TV chef)
Sponsor: The Yorkshire Society

Yorkshire Awards Woman of the Year
Winner: Kay Mellor
Kay Mellor has written some of the most successful stage and TV dramas in modern times such as Fat Friends, Band of Gold and Girls´ Night. Yorkshire - and Yorkshire life - is the inspiration for her characters whose lives are packed with the pain and drama of everyday dilemmas.
Presented by: John Middleton (Ashley in Emmerdale)
Award Sponsor: Yorkshire Bank

Yorkshire Awards Man of the Year
Winner: Alan Hinkes
Alan Hinkes has reached heights that to most of us would be unimaginable. He has scaled 14 of the world´s highest mountains including Everest and K2 often putting his life in danger as he battled against some of earth´s harshest conditions.
Presented by: Brian Blessed.
Award Sponsor: Black Sheep Brewery