RESIDENTS, charities and community groups were celebrated at the Didcot Town Awards on Saturday last week.

The annual event, which is held at Didcot Civic Hall in Britwell Road, aims to celebrate the community.

Fourteen different awards were presented by councillors, previous winners, Mayor Mocky Khan and Deputy Mayor Pam Siggers.

Herald Series: The winners from 2020.The winners from 2020.

The winners from 2021 and 2020 were celebrated as the event couldn’t be held for the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Khan, who also represents Didcot on South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I thought it was a very successful event which was really about celebrating two years of all the great hard work and dedication of volunteers and people in Didcot.

“There were a lot of nominations which was great as people are starting to realise that there are a lot of amazing people out there.

“The people who were shortlisted and then became winners were so shocked. The one I noticed was that they all work so hard behind the scenes and do so much for others that they rarely think about themselves so these awards for them were great.

“I was really pleased to award the Didcot vaccination team with the ‘Covid Hero’ award. There were 20 of them on the night and it was great to recognise them. Because of them Didcot got jabbed and vaccinated.”

Herald Series: Andy Baker MBE getting the Special Recognition AwardAndy Baker MBE getting the Special Recognition Award

The winners were as follows:

  • Special Recognition Award; Andy Baker MBE
  • Artistic; Didcot Phoenix Drama Group
  • Sporting Achievement; Didcot Barramundi Swimming Group
  • Covid Hero; Didcot Vaccination Team
  • Young; Taylor Bowers
  • Service with a Smile; Emma Horwill
  • Lifetime Achievement; Sheila Bayliss
  • Unsung Hero; Chris Byrne
  • Mayors Appreciation Award; Bernadine & Natalie Soul
  • Mayors Community Champions; Courtney Hughes, Hasnath Miah and Play2Give.
  • John Eldridge Award; Kathryn Goldsby-West

A presentation also took place on the night along with food and entertainment. It is hoped the awards night for 2022 can take place in December this year with applications for nominations opening in the summer.

Cllr Khan said: “Due to covid we’re a bit out of sync but we hope to hold another this year.”

Herald Series: Chris Byrne winning the unsung hero awardChris Byrne winning the unsung hero award

Meanwhile, the next event with be mayor’s charity which will take place this Saturday, April 2, in the Civic Hall.

The event will run from 7pm to 12pm and the theme is the colour red. Bernadine Soul’s School of Dance will be performing as well as music from the Aureus School, a three-course meal, games and a disco.

Tickets costs £50 to raise money for Coeliac UK and Play2Give, the mayor’s chosen charities. To buy a ticket, email events@didcot.gov.uk