THERE’S just a fortnight to go until the second annual Dunfermline Press and Central Fife Times Community Champions Awards. Last Friday, our judging panel: Press editor Simon Harris; Barry Stevenson, owner of main sponsor Stevenson Funeral Directors; volunteer development officer Cat Cockburn, of Fife Voluntary Action and Community Inspector Ian Flynn, based at Dunfermline Police Station, deliberated over the 100 nominations we’ve received across 10 categories and selected their finalists. There were no easy decisions, the session lasted around two-and-a-half hours, but now the finalists have been contacted and we look forward to what promises to be a memorable and inspiring evening celebrating everything that is positive in the communities covered by the Press and Times.
Press editor Simon Harris said: “If anything, it was an even tougher task to select our finalists this year. You cannot fail to be moved by the examples of community spirit, kindness and courage that shone through the nominations and it was a humbling experience to read them all. “It demonstrates what a strong and vibrant community we have and our awards ceremony promises to be a celebration of the unsung heroes who make West Fife such a special place to live.” The formal, but fun awards ceremony takes place on Friday, June 3, at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline. The award category winners will be announced and the evening will also include a drinks reception, three-course meal and entertainment. Tickets are on sale now. If you would like to be part of what promises to be a special evening, contact our events team on 01383 747500. The awards that will be handed out on the night are: Teacher of the Year, Charity Champion of the Year, Community Champion of the Year, Entrepreneurial Award, Heart of Gold, Little Champion of the Year, Live Music Award, Sporting Champion of the Year, Young Enterprise Champion and Youth Community Champion.
Hosting the awards once again will be former BBC reporter and presenter, Alison Walker. In more than 20 years working as a reporter and presenter with the BBC in TV and radio, Alison’s career highlights include covering five Olympic Games and Glasgow 2014 where she was the MC for the athletics at Hampden Park and managed to chase down Usain Bolt for an interview. She is Rio bound for the 2016 Olympic Games this summer. During her time at the BBC, she had an eight-year stint presenting the sports PRESS AWARDS Community heroes news on the flagship news programme Reporting Scotland and has also reported on elections, travel and education. She said: “I’m over the moon to have been asked to host the Dunfermline Press and Central Fife Times Community Champions Awards for a second year. Last year was a great event to be part of and host, a truly humbling experience with worthy winners and I’m looking forward to meeting all the finalists at the ceremony next month.”