Introduction

from Reading Today, December 14, 2022: Pride of Reading Awards Supplement

Over 50 employees

2 What’s inside

Introduction.......................................................2 Charity of the Year........................................3 School of the Year....................................... 4 Business in Action – Under 50 employees .................... 5 – Over 50 employees ....................... 6 Fundraiser of the Year...............................7 Employee of the Year................................ 8 Cultural Contribution ................................ 9 The Chris Tarrant Award ......................10 Child of Courage...........................................11 Community Champion...........................12 Volunteer of the Year...............................13 Entrepreneur of the Year .......................14 Community of the Year..........................15 An action packed event..................16-17 Inspiration Award.......................................18 Mental Health Champion .....................19 Local Hero ......................................................20 Special Recognition..................................21 On the red carpet.............................. 22-23 The entertainment ...........................24-25 The presenters............................................26 The quiz of the year.................................27 Reading’s new biscuit ..........................28 A tribute to Hilary Scott .......................29 The creative team.....................................30 Thank you.........................................................31 Our sponsors ...............................................32

PRIDE OF READING 2022 souvenir supplement written by PHIL CREIGHTON, JAKE CLOTHIER and KIM CHAPMAN Photography by DIJANA CAPAN from DVision Images, dvision-images.com and CAROLINE GRATRIX from Viva Photography, vivaphotography.co.uk

and STEVE SMYTH

Produced by READING TODAY, rdg.today and printed by REACH WATFORD

The Pride of Reading Organising Committee

What a wonderful celebration

HUGE THANKS TO OUR INSPIRING WINNERS AND GENEROUS SPONSORS

IT is the 18th year of the Pride of Reading Awards, and it never ceases to amaze how the incredible tales of bravery and endeavour keep coming.

As our host since the beginning

Chris Tarrant says, 18 years ago people said it would never last. How wrong they were.

We still have a fabulous array of nominees to choose from which makes judging extremely difficult but we encourage nominators to put names forward again if anyone missed out. There’s always next year.

And congratulations to the winners as inspiring as ever at the very heart of the show, and guests once again were delighted to show their appreciation with more than a few tears being shed.

Of course, it would not be possible without our wonderful sponsors and their warmhearted generosity, from sponsoring individual awards, to providing services and people to help, to donating super gifts for the goody bags and table prizes. It makes the day so special and we cannot thank them enough.

The event theme was Let’s Celebrate, as we saluted once again the people who make Reading a great place to live and work. It was held for the 10th year at Reading FC Conference & Events, and hosted again by Chris who said it made him proud of his home town.

It was presented by Reading lass Mel Bloor of ITV News and Reading lad Matt Allwright if the BBC.

Entertainment was provided by Reading talent Danyl Johnson, the event’s patron, and ‘Elvis’ Paul Rouse, along with Kitty Mazinsky and Bethia, with a surprise appearance by Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 fame.

But the winners were the stars of the show as videos played which illustrated their amazing achievements. n If you would like to get involved