First launched six years ago, Pride of Tendring recognises community heroes across the district.
The awards, which are likened to a local version of the new year’s honours list reward those who make a difference to the lives of others.
Tendring District Council Chairman Mark Platt said: “There are so many deserving people in our community and the nominations for the Pride of Tendring Awards continue to flood in from right across the District.
“The overall standard is once again as high as ever and this is our opportunity to honour some of those who do so much for others.
“Many have been giving of the time and efforts over many years benefiting the most vulnerable people in community.
“The award winners are truly amazing people who do not look for any reward for their actions.”
Cllr Platt added that the announcement of the award winners was a very positive way to start the new year and that he was looking forward to meeting all those who were being honoured.
Tendring District Councillors were given the opportunity to nominate members of the community .
Amongst those being recognised are Jean White and Daphne West, otherwise known as the Litter Ladies of Frinton.
The pair started cleaning their own road a decade ago and have since increased their patch to cover a number of areas including around Frinton Station.
Jean and Daphne are now aged 80 and 84 respectively and still go out every Wednesday to keep their area clean and have no plans to stop anytime soon.
Also nominated is Juliet Roberts from Thorpe who runs the Rock It Club for adults with learning disabilities.
Juliet set up the club, which caters to people with a range of disabilities, five years ago.
The main aim is for users to have fun and integrate with society through a range of themed evenings.
Juliet also helped to set up a Dial a Ride scheme to enable users to attend the club.
The group of volunteers behind the re-opening of the Maybush Inn in Great Oakley have also been given an award.
138 make up the group of volunteers behind the pub which was brought back in May 2016.
Now just over a year later the pub has become a social hotspot hosting themed lunch and dinner events, beer festivals and weekly bingo and quiz nights.
Former firefighter Steve Houston is also being recognised.
Steve spent 35 years as a firefighter before joining the Brightlingsea First Responders in his retirement.
He is now the coordinator for the service and has been known to work a full seven days without a break. In addition to this Steve has spent many hours fundraising with group.
Together Steve and the group have helped to raise enough money to have defibrillators fitted in several parts of the town.
With Steve fitting the machines and training people to use them.
Steve has also spent many hours talking to children and local groups about basic first aid and how to cope with an emergency.
Winterfest founder Alix Sheppard is also being recognised.
Alix lost her partner, firefighter and Vipers singer, Joe Keighley in 2014 after a long battle with depression.
Alix organised the first event in 2015 in memory of Joe and hoped to raise awareness for mental health issues.
Funds were raised at the event to support mental health charity Mid and North Essex Mind.
Attendance has grown over the past few years with the event giving people the opportunity to try new things in winter.
Further winners of a Pride of Tendring award are Tendring Brass Band’s Anthony Sanders, The Harwich Secret Gardens, the Clacton based Mad About Theatre Company, St Osyth fundraiser Jim Bligh, Walton Carnival chairman Karlie McGregor , Colchester Hospital volunteer Lesley Anne Stronge, The Brightlingsea Litter Pickers, Harwich volunteer Monica Lindsey Graves, Great Bromley WI’s Beryl Hurst, Elmstead volunteer Ellen Chubb, community volunteer Patrisha Turner and former Clacton lifeboat helmsman Tim Sutton.
The 17 winners of this year’s awards will receive their accolades at a special ceremony at Clacton’s Princes Theatre on February 23.
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