TOWARDS the end of another memorable Local Heroes Awards event last week, a few minutes were set aside to remember those from the world of grass roots sport who have died over the past year.

The “Gone But Not Forgotten” roll of honour fittingly ended with a photograph of Kip Watson.

Kip was our overall Local Hero in 2001, in recognition of his admirable dedication to creating and running an over-40s football league which spread like wildfire across the North-East.

Kip died, aged 96, in October and there he was on the big screen, a reminder of how quickly time passes.

Thirteen more Local Heroes ceremonies have flown by since then, each one highlighting inspirational stories, from children at the beginning of their sporting adventures, to pensioners with a lifetime of commitment behind them.

This year, it was the turn of Karl Wharton to win the evening’s main prize, for founding the Deerness Gymnastics Academy, at Ushaw Moor, in Durham, and turning it into surely one of the most successful grass roots sport organisations not just in north but in the country.

When the county council’s leisure centre faced closure, Karl led the takeover by the local community. He has guided dozens of youngsters to national and international honours and sits on gymnastics’ world governing body.

It is for all those reasons that he is the Local Hero of 2014, chosen from a field of outstanding category winners, and it was a privilege to be there to see him properly recognised for all that he has done.

DEERNESS Gymnastics Academy is the home of the brilliant Acropolis acrobatic team which has become a fixture of the Local Heroes Awards.

Back by popular demand, they put on another spectacular show of somersaults, balancing feats and flying dismounts.

I admit to having my heart in my mouth every time I watch them from the side of the stage.

Shamefully, my primary concern is not for the young acrobats, but that one of them might land on my auto-cue and shatter the illusion that I'm a compere who knows what he's doing.

Thankfully, the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, was in the audience. We had God on our side and the show went on.

THE Local Heroes Awards ceremony raises money for the Future Sport charity, which gives out grants to sporting youngsters.

This year's fundraising interlude featured Spennymoor lad and former World Cup referee, gentlemanly George Courtney, officiating at a game of "red card, yellow card".

Each member of the audience had to hold up a red card or a yellow card. Whether they remained standing depended on which colour card was flourished by George.

It just so happened that they were the actual red and yellow cards George used during the 1986 and 1990 World Cups in Mexico and Italy.

Now that's what you call a classy booking.

AHEAD of Local Heroes night, I visited Kirk Merrington Primary School to do a story-writing workshop, and it was a pleasure to meet eight-year old Jessica Barton.

Jessica, pictured left, had lovely, long brown hair, but she chose to have it cut off after hearing how some children need wigs because they have cancer and go bald.

Jessica raised £150 for charity and her shorn locks will go to the Little Princess Trust to help make a wig for a child who needs it.

She said her shorter hair was a bit of a shock at first – but I’m pretty sure you'll agree with me that she looks just lovely.