This year’s Stars of Babergh and Mid Suffolk have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony in Hadleigh.
More than 150 entries were sent in to the awards which were held at St Mary’s Church with categories covering everything from business growth to volunteering and sporting achievement.
It was the Redgrave Community Society who came out on top for Mid Suffolk: the society bought the Cross Keys pub in July 2017 and also works closely with the community.
In Babergh Will Hunt who runs the Disability team at the Cornard Dynamos youth football club.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Mr Hunt who also won volunteer of the year for Babergh, “it’s good to be appreciated especially for something that I love doing.”
Julie Flatman, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for communities, said:“Last night was about celebrating the real heroes and heroines who’ve done so much in our districts.
“We feel so proud to be able to offer these awards to recognise such outstanding achievements. We couldn’t have done it without any of our nominees or sponsors so well done to everyone involved!”
Margaret Maybury, Babergh District Council’s cabinet member for communities, added: “We’ve been able to celebrate those who do amazing things throughout our towns and villages, often unnoticed.
“This exciting and important work helps our communities thrive and makes a big impact in out districts. The look on people’s faces last night when they received their awards made the event and I’m sure that the happiness and memories will resonate long after the music and lights went down. Congratulations to all.”
Simon Barrett, Babergh District Council’s cabinet member for economy said: “What a great evening the Stars of Babergh and Mid Suffolk was. Our local residents, volunteers and businesses do such an amazing job in our community and often go unnoticed for their efforts. It’s great to see them working across our towns and villages, ensuring growth and enabling them to adapt to the future needs of our community.”
Gerard Brewster, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for economy said: “The Stars of Babergh and Mid Suffolk awards are a perfect example of businesses and individuals across our area working in tandem to achieve great things in our communities. There were many stories of great triumph, only highlighting how our economy thrives when our businesses and people work hard to achieve results together.”
You can see a full list of winners below:
Business in the Community Award
Babergh
Winner: Manish Patel, Shotley Stores
Winner: Mukunthan Thurairajah (Muku)
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Cabbages & Kings and the Mix
Finalist: Orbital Media
Business Growth Award
Babergh
Winner: Suffolk Market Events
Finalist: Hollingsworths Store & Butchers, Chelmondiston
Finalist: Stour Sort & Sparkle
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Ocala
Finalist: C&K Meats Ltd
Community Group of the Year Award
Babergh
Winner: Stutton Community Shop CIC
Finalist: Ansell Memories Café
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Information Line Volunteers – Suffolk Family Carers
Winner: Talk & Support Volunteers – Suffolk Family Carers
Community Spirit of the Year Award
Babergh
Winner: Joes Golf & Activity Park
Finalist: Shotley & Erwarton Good Neighbour Scheme
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Redgrave Community Society
Finalist: Radio Stradbroke
Best Community Achievement Award
Babergh
Winner: Team Together Tuesday
Finalist: Kernos Centre (KERNOS)
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Courthouse Café Volunteers
Finalist: Stradbroke Good Neighbours
Community Project of the Year Award
Babergh
Winner: Lavenham Community Land Trust
Finalist: Diane Chase & Audrey Lorford, producers of ‘Hintlesham & Chattisham, the story of two Suffolk villages’
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Inspire Suffolk’s Princes Trust Team at Stowmarket
Finalist: Search for the Stars
Sporting Achievement of the Year Award
Babergh
Winner: Sudbury Cricket Club
Finalist: Kelly Mires, Hadleigh Stars Gymnastics
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Mark Trent, Scorpion Martial Arts Academy
Finalist: Tim Carr, Claydon FC
Community Champion of the Year Award
Babergh
Winner: Norman Bugg, community volunteer
Finalist: Janet Dicks, Hollywood, Ansell Centre Hadleigh
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Irene Davis, community volunteer
Finalist: Roger Rehan, Founding trustee of Mid Suffolk CA
Finalist: David Goodlad, community volunteer
Volunteer of the Year
Babergh
Winner: Will Hunt, Cornard Dynamos
Finalist: Jane Snowdon, community volunteer
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Carol Prybus, Stowmarket Rookery Bowls Group
Winner: Chris Brook, Stowmarket Rookery Bowls Group
Special Recognition
Babergh
Winner: Carroll Reeve, Lavenham community volunteer
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Kat Terry, community volunteer
Overall Star
Babergh
Winner: Will Hunt, Cornard Dynamos
Mid Suffolk
Winner: Redgrave Community Society
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