It seemed like a near- impossible task. Nominations had arrived in their thousands and it had taken months to narrow them down to a shortlist. But now it was decision time as the judging panel – eminent figures from various areas of public life – met in the oak panelled library of the Marriott County Hall in Central London.
As they read about the nominees for outstanding bravery, Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson and former Pride Of Britain Teacher Of The Year Nesta Murray shook their heads in disbelief.
“It’s courage I can’t imagine,” said Kelly.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson was impressed by pensioner Michael Seery who was stabbed as he wrestled with an armed robber in a betting shop. “Bravery to me is when someone has to make a choice to do something or not,” said Sir Paul. “Michael made a split second decision and, to me, that is the ultimate in courage.”
Kelly, who served in the Women’s Royal Auxilliary Corp before becoming a full-time athlete in 1997, admired Royal Marine Sgt Noel Connolly. He saved 30 lives by flooring a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. “It was an act of true selflessness,” she said. “There’s never been a better time to recognise the military.”
Sarah Brown had no doubt that Major Phil Packer, paralysed from the waist down in a rocket attack in Iraq, deserved recognition for raising more than £1m with challenges such as competing in the London Marathon. “He’s absolutely extraordinary,” she said.
Occasionally, the debate over nominees became so heated that the chairman, Pride Of Britain founder Peter Willis, asked for a show of hands to reach a decision.
As ever, the most difficult challenge was choosing the Child Of Courage winners from so many stories. GMTV’s Ben Shephard may have interviewed world famous stars, but he was bowled over by eight-year-old Levana Hanson.
Despite losing her legs to meningitis as a baby, Levana defied her disability – and cruel bullies – to fundraise for other meningitis victims by doing a sponsored karate kickathon. “Her story’s compelling,” said Ben. “Not only is she overcoming her own disability, she’s taking the time to help other people too. What a special girl.”
The panel decided on the majority of categories. However, GMTV viewers and Daily Mirror readers voted online for the GMTV Emergency Services winner.
Finalists of The ITV Feelgood Factor Award, all inspiring individuals who support and enable others to change their lives for the better, were decided by independent judging committees in ITV regions across the UK. Then the national judging panel chose the overall winner, to be announced.
The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award was selected by a special committee chaired by their Chief Executive, Martina Milburn, and included Radio 5 presenter Victoria Derbyshire, Pride Of Britain producer Tom Gould, Rob Cope of the Prince’s Trust and Peter Willis.
As the judging concluded, Peter Marks, Chief Executive of sponsors The Co-operative Group, summed up the mood, saying, “The awards make me so proud to be British.”
The Judges 2009
Peter Willis
The Associate Editor of the Daily Mirror is also the founder of the Pride Of Britain Awards and chairs the judging panel each year.
Emma Bunton
After shooting to fame with The Spice Girls and enjoying a successful solo career, ‘Baby Spice’ Emma is mum to son Beau, two, and presents a show on Heart FM.
Mark Austin
The Emmy award-winning journalist is now ITV’s news anchorman after joining ITN in 1986 and specialising in foreign affairs. It’s his second year as a judge.
Ben Shephard
Ben joined ITV’s GMTV in 2000 and is now one of the show’s main presenters. He is a patron of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Against Breast Cancer.
Sir Liam Donaldson
As Chief Medical Officer for England, and the UK’s Chief Medical Adviser since 1998, Sir Liam advises the Government on health matters.
Sarah Brown
Wife of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah formerly worked in public relations and is involved in many charities for children, women and families.
Peter Marks
Having started out at The Co-Operative as a teenager on the shop floor, Peter is now the Chief Executive of the UK’s largest mutual retailer.
Nesta Murray
Headteacher Nesta was 2004’s Pride Of Britain Teacher Of The Year, after she launched an anger management scheme to reduce violence in her school.
Tim Miller
Tim returns for a fifth year as Executive Producer of The Pride Of Britain television show on ITV1 which attracts an audience of millions.
Sir Paul Stephenson
Appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in January this year, Sir Paul is the head of Scotland Yard and the UK’s most senior police officer.
Dame Kelly Holmes
The double Olympic Gold medallist was made a Dame in 2005, and she is now the Government-backed National School of Sport Champion.
Richard Wallace
Richard has been editor of the Daily Mirror since 2004 and was previously deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror. He was GQ Editor Of The Year in 2006.
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