The search is over! The general public has spoken and put forward some outstanding candidates for those who make our communities a better place.
Nominations opened in April, and the judges have had an extremely difficult task in whittling down hundreds of entries into a shortlist of just 41 finalists for the 2017 Stars of Suffolk awards.
The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at Trinity Park on Thursday night.
The awards were launched 10 years ago by Mick Parker, managing director of Parker Communications, to celebrate the true unsung heroes in our county. It could be by showing extreme bravery and courage to overcome a personal battle, showing sheer determination to achieve sporting excellence or going the extra mile to make a difference to your community.
Every day, hundreds of people head out to work and return home having saved a life or made Suffolk a safer place to live.
The people who receive these awards consider themselves to be perfectly ordinary, to be doing something that any other person would do. But we feel differently. The Stars of Suffolk awards look to give these ‘ordinary’ people the acknowledgement they deserve for doing extraordinary things.
“Stars of Suffolk 2017 is going to be totally amazing,” said Mick. “With preparations in full swing we couldn’t be more excited.
“We have been staggered by not only the number but the quality of entries. The judges have really had an impossible task in choosing the winners.
“However, we have decided on the finalists and we have some extraordinary people to celebrate with on Thursday evening.
“Trinity Park will be the perfect venue to recognise the real heroes in our community.
“We are delighted that Stars of Suffolk continues to grow and receive recognition.”
Leanne Smith, sales and events manager at Trinity Park, said: “The stars of Suffolk is a fantastic event with great recognition on the local community and the amazing local people.
“Trinity Park is home of the Suffolk agricultural association and as a charity we are incredibly supportive of the acknowledgement of these groups and individuals.”
We will be publishing live updates straight from the awards ceremony onto our websites and our social media accounts. Use the hashtag #StarsofSuffolk2017
Ladies and gentleman, we at the EADT and Ipswich Star are delighted to reveal this year’s Stars of Suffolk finalists...
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