YORKSHIRE AWARDS 2008 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Published: 17/10/2008

Yorkshire greats from the field of showbiz, sport, the arts and business are honoured in a star-studded Yorkshire Awards presentation ceremony, held at Hilton Leeds City tonight (17/10/08).

The Awards, organised and run by The Yorkshire Awards Committee are now in their 20th 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.

The 2008 Yorkshire Awards winners are:

Richard Whiteley Special Award
Winner: Adrian Sudbury (posthumously)
Recipient: His parents Keith and Kay Sudbury
Presenter: Kathryn Apanowicz
Award Sponsor: Yorkshire Awards Committee

This award acknowledges remarkable commitment in the face of unbelieveable adversity. A young man who made an incredible impact whilst he knew he was dying. He made all of us think about how inadequate we feel at times and yet he went to Gordon Brown to talk passionately about his cause.

Yorkshire Community Hero Award
Winner: Ernest and Elisabeth Hibbert
Presenter: Ian James, general manager, Hilton Leeds City
Award Sponsor: Hilton Leeds City

11 years ago, Ernest and Elisabeth formed the Community Awareness Programme (CAP) to deal with the rising flood of the homeless and needy. Initially located at the New Life Christian Centre Church, Wakefield – they provided food and drink to the needy a couple of days a week. However six years ago CAP moved into its own premises in Wakefield and is open every weekday between 10am to noon. The centre provides food and drink on a daily basis for between 40 to 50 clients as well as offering clothing, showers and food parcels. Operating a faith backed philosophy of ‘providing help and assistance to all parties regardless of sex, age, religion or health issues.’ CAP also ‘signposts’ clients to other agencies. CAP has two houses which currently house six homeless people within each. In the last year CAP has provided food to over 10,000 individuals. In the last few months CAP has also ‘clothes’ over 150 asylum seekers from Angel Lodge. Patrons of CAP include Sean Penn, local singing lass ‘McDonald’ and Jimmy Saville.

Yorkshire Business Enterprise Award.
Winner: Arnold Laver Limited
Presented to: Andrew Laver, managing director, Arnold Laver
Presenter: Richard Taylor, Branch Director, Aon Limited
Award Sponsor: Aon Limited

Our business award is always one of the hardest to decide on, such is the quality of so many businesses in this county. But it is fair to say that this company has a remarkable heritage and tradition. It enriches the very fabric of the county. Arnold Laver has a diverse profile, with business interests in both the property and leisure markets as well as the timber import and merchant sector, for which it is best known. With a heritage of nearly 90 years, 800 employees across a national network of thirteen depots, a large range of stock, and a privately owned delivery fleet; Arnold Laver Timber World is a major force in the UK timber industry. Customers benefit from our links with some of the foremost suppliers in the world. A centralised group purchasing policy is in place, ensuring a robust supply chain and a strong bargaining position when it comes to quality, service and price.

Yorkshire Arts and Entertainment Personality Award (presentation by video)
Winner: The Kaiser Chiefs
Sponsor: BBC

Yorkshire Sporting Achievement Award
Winner: - Phil Brown, manager, Hull City FC
Presenter: Matt Reeder, Yorkshire Post Sports Editor
Award Sponsor: Yorkshire Post
It has been one of the most remarkable sporting success stories for many years. And when a few weeks ago the world of soccer was literally stunned by their performance in London we all knew that it was not a fluke.

Yorkshire Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Jonathan Wild, chairman of Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate
Presenter: Keith Madeley, chairman of The Yorkshire Society
Sponsor: The Yorkshire Society
This award acknowledges a lifetime of commitment and achievement in Yorkshire. Yorkshire has many exports that are known around the world. But for thousands of people one institution is very often at the top of any visit to God’s own county. It’s history goes back nearly 90 years but its place in our affections is permanent. The man at its helm is from the original side of the family.

Yorkshire Awards Woman of the Year
Winner: Jilly Cooper OBE, author
Presenter: Kevin Newson, senior partner, Yorkshire Bank
Award Sponsor: Yorkshire Bank

Her cv would run for pages but at the top of it all is her love of this county. It comes across in every facet of her life.

Yorkshire Awards Man of the Year
Winner: Sir Rodney Walker

Yorkshire Gold Medal Award (The Yorkshire Olympiads)
We have a special award this year to mark an astonishing success at the 2008 Olympic games.Yorkshire’s medal haul was proportionately miles ahead of any other county in both games the summer and Paralympics.

Winner: Ed Clancy (present on the night)
Event: Olympic Gold in cycling - 400m team pursuit

Winner: David Stone (present on the night)
Event: Double Olympic Gold in cycling - individual time trial and mixed individual road race

Winner: Andy Hodge
Event: Olympic Gold in rowing - Men’s 4
Award Recipient: His parents Peter and Liv Hodge

Winner: Danielle Brown
Event: Olympic Gold in Archery
Award Recipient: Her parents Duncan & Liz Brown

Winner: Helene Raynsford
Event: Olympic Gold in rowing - Women’s arms only single scull
(No recipient present on the night)

Winner: Paul Goodison
Event: Olympic Gold in sailing - One person dinghy laser
(No recipient present on the night)

Paul Theakston, managing director of Black Sheep Brewery will present all the Gold Medal Awards