Pride of St Helens 2024: The winners and highly commended

The 12th Pride of St Helens awards - sponsored by the Mikhail Hotel & Leisiure Group - was staged in Saints' 1873 Lounge on Friday.

BBC Radio 5 Live's presenter Fraser Dainton hosted the event, which saw the St Helens Darts Academy take the evening's headline Pride of St Helens award.

Fraser Dainton interviews St Helens Darts Academy's Karl Holden (Image: Dave Gillespie) The Academy was hailed for how it has propelled darters - from Michael Smith to Luke Littler - on to the world stage and for giving hundreds of youngsters the platform to take up the sport.

Meanwhile, John Burchall, of the famous 184-year-old butchers and pie-makers, was given a Special Achievement Award, an honour which was hugely popular with the audience.

John Burchall walks to the stage (Image: Dave Gillespie)Mr Burchall, who has held the reins of the much-loved Westfield Street business for the past three decades, received a standing ovation after being surprised by a tribute read by Star editor Andrew Kilmurray.

There were many other uplifting stories among an outstanding field of shortlisted nominees too.

West End actress Olivia Holding, daughter of former Saints player Neil, was named the Arts Award winner. Olivia was unable to attend the ceremony as she was due to perform in London and so her elated mum Kate collected the honour on her behalf.

In the sports categories, recently retired Saints Women's player Faye Gaskin was named Sportsperson of the Year, while precocious young hurdler Lewis Shaw was Young Sportsperson.

A night of emotion

There were many incredibly emotional moments too, with some in the audience having to hold back tears as nominations were read out. This was the case when the team of St Helens police officers and nurse Janet Grace, who saved the life of three-year-old Ayda Kenny at Waterside Village earlier this year, were called to the stage.

The rescuers of little Ayda Kenny (Image: Dave Gillespie) There were tears shed from guests in the audience as Ayda and her mum Alex joined the rescue crew.

Earlier in the evening, Child of Courage awards were given to Charlie Stuchberry and Teighan Whitfield after Fraser shared their inspiring stories with the audience,

Teighan and Charlie took the Child of Courage honours (Image: Dave Gillespie) There was also an award for Sarah and Paul Cardwell, who raised funds for charity in memory of their 10-year-old son Harry who died last year. It was another immensely poignant moment.

Meanwhile, the selfless actions of Stephen Baines and Kathleen Howard were recognised with Community Business Hero and Unsung Hero awards respectively, and war veteran Andy Reid's Standing Tall Foundation was saluted in the Community Impact category.

There were also joyous reactions from Allanson Street, on being named School of the Year, and the World of Glass, which was named Pride of Place.

The Star will feature all the categories with in-depth coverage and pictures throughout this week - in print and online.

The event was organised by the Steve Prescott Foundation and media partners the St Helens Star.

Pride of St Helens 2024: Winners and highly commended 

St Helens Flooring Arts Award

Winner: Olivia Holding

Highly commended: Louie Gray

Highly commended: The Ks

Brendon International Charity Champion

Winner: Sarah and Paul Cardwell

Highly commended: Rainhill Gala

Highly commended: Luke Grounds

Lanny Man Child Of Courage Award

Winners: Charlie Stuchberry and Teighan Whitfield

Torus Community Business Hero

Winner: Stephen Lee Baines

Highly commended: Eddie & Helen Hoffman

Highly commended: Simon Hood

Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action - Community Impact Award 

Winner: Standing Tall Foundation

Highly commended: Buzz Hub (CDP)

Highly commended: Town in the Town

Paramount Digital Courage Award 

Winner: PCs and nurse who rescued Ayda Kenny

Highly commended: Abigail Sharp

Highly commended: Barbara Smith

Swindells Roofing Pride of Place Award

Winner: Friends of Victoria Park

Highly commended: Park Farm Community Centre

Highly commended: World of Glass

JC Kitchens School of the Year

Winner: Allanson Street

Highly commended: Bleak Hill Primary

Highly commended: Rainford CE Primary

Saints Sportsperson of the Year Award 

Winner: Faye Gaskin

Highly commended: Kai Birch

Highly commended: Andy Middlehurst

St Helens Borough Council Young Sportsperson of the Year 

Winner: Lewis Shaw

Highly commended: Hayden Battle

Highly commended: Beri Salihi

Handepay Unsung Hero Award 

Winner: Kathleen Howard

Highly commended: David O’Dowd

Highly commended: Steve Pearce

Special Achievement Award, sponsored by RJG Architecture

Winner: John Burchall

Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Pride of St Helens Award 

Winner: St Helens Darts Academy

Highly commended: St Helens RFC Women

Highly commended: St Helens Carers Centre & Young Carers

'You can be the leaders who champion St Helens'

In a speech opening the awards, Star editor Andrew thanked the award sponsors for ensuring the awards go ahead.

He also looked back on the inception of the awards and how the legacy of Steve Prescott could be carried on by those in attendance.

He said: "Back in 2012, Steve Prescott was doing all manner of inspiring challenges and driving others across the town to do so.

"Steve took strength from other people’s stories but he would become frustrated by the way, as a town, we could often be guilty of talking down our achievements or looking at the negatives too much.

"So in an attempt to tackle that, Steve’s foundation and the Star worked together to form the Pride of St Helens Awards – some might say our smaller version of the Pride of Britain awards.

"And we’ve had some unbelievable stories down the years – from the first event’s headline winner, Andy Reid, to saluting organisations such as Willowbrook Hospice and the Lilac Centre, amazing campaigners like the Youens family and Marie McCourt, champion players from Saints, heroes from the pandemic such as our hospital teams in Whiston and St Helens, and many, many other unsung heroes who enrich the town’s grassroots.

"Does it make a difference? Well, we hope it does.

"We can’t stop the negativity that sometimes surrounds us – we live in a challenging, difficult world where, quite frankly, there can be a lot of cynicism and nastiness.

"But we can counter it by celebrating the great people, places and organisations, like Steve Prescott wanted us to do, creating this rich tapestry of St Helens achievement.

"You’ll hear many uplifting, inspiring and emotional stories tonight – and you’ll walk away feeling much prouder of your town.

"What we’d ask is that you take that positivity and you share it among your communities and networks. You’re all amazing people – and just like Steve – you can be the leaders who champion the very best of St Helens."