Falmouth joined the awards season on Monday with a gala dinner at the Harbour Lights to recognise and reward Falmouth’s Community Heroes.

An evening of warmth, celebration, congratulations and top-notch fish and chips were order of the evening during the evening. The restaurant was closed for the night to host the three shortlisted heroes with their friends, family and colleagues. With bubbly, fish and chips, cash prizes and a beautiful bronze award the event felt like a real celebration.

Pete Fraser said “At the Harbour Lights we feel very much part of the town and thrive on meeting interesting, loyal and amazing inspirational people every day over the universal love of fish and chips. He added, we can’t think of a better way of recognising how Falmouth is very much part of the unique offering we have at the Harbour Lights than recognising the hero’s we have amongst us.”

In October Harbour Lights launched their fourth search for the heroes hidden in plain sight throughout our local community. Sue Fraser, owner at Harbour Lights said “After the last year or so it can be tricky to stay positive, but this campaign is all about doing positive things, affecting change and making a difference. It was wonderful to see the local community get behind this idea. Reading the nominations was truly inspirational.”

READ NEXT:

Delight as source of woodland stream pollution is identified

Richard Gates commented “We are delighted with the top three shortlisted heroes and they are all worthy winners. Sophie Alway (Georgia’s Voice) winner of the top prize of £300, fish & chips for a year and the first place award is a true hero.”

Sophie Always (Georgia’s voice) offers free, confidential support groups for young women with mental health concerns. They offer a safe place for you to come and talk, listen or just be.

Sophie said “I was amazed I had been nominated and to win was quite overwhelming. The £300 will be a real boost too. The fish and chips for a year is such a treat!”

Pete and Sue commissioned local sculpture Natasha Ratcliffe to design a bespoke award for the awards. Despite looking rather impressive and apt, having come from a fish and chip shop - the awards hold a secret. They’re made from the same bronze as the fish in the pavement outside, which is a mixture of copper and tin, and the tin is from the wreck of the SS Cheerful.

The vessel was a steam cargo ship that sank on its way from Falmouth to Liverpool when it collided with HMS Hecla, a munitions ship. The wreck now lies 35 fathoms (64m/210ft) down, approximately 18 miles NNW of St Ives, Cornwall. So as well as taking home funds to support their local cause the winners also take home a bit of Falmouth history.

The joint runners up Keith Collings and the Lynn Newham also attended the dinner along with friends, family and colleagues.

 

Keith Collings was nominated for his work across multiple organisations.

Keith Collings was nominated for his work across multiple organisations.

 

Keith Collings was nominated for his work across multiple organisations. He set up The Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors in 2006 and two years ago was asked to be the acting RNLI Water Safety Officer and is now leading a 12 strong team, teaching local school children how to stay safe on or near the sea.

Keith added “I was so surprised when I heard I had been shortlisted. I am very touched to have firstly been put forward and secondly, it’s an honour to have been recognised.”

 

Lynn Newham was recognised for the incredible work she has done with the Boscawen Fields Action Group around Falmouth and the surrounding area.

Lynn Newham was recognised for the incredible work she has done with the Boscawen Fields Action Group around Falmouth and the surrounding area.

 

Lynn Newham was recognised for the incredible work she has done with the Boscawen Fields Action Group around Falmouth and the surrounding area.

Lynn said, “Being nominated for this award is amazing and we as a team are touched. The team work so hard throughout the year so to be publicly recognised for this is great.”

Pete added, “What a wonderful evening shared with some amazing people. It’s impossible not to be inspired and have huge respect for all the people within our community doing more than their bit and seeing the difference we can make. It’s Humbling, so the least we can do is facilitate some recognition. Really looking forward to repeating this next year. Huge thanks to everyone involved”.