ONE of the great joys of writing this column is meeting so many wonderful, inspirational people and being able to shine a spotlight on their achievements. With sincere apologies to the many I couldn’t squeeze in, here are my Stars Awards for 2018…

EXAMPLE OF THE YEAR: Whenever you’re feeling down, just think of Joan Lawrence. This Spring will mark the 10th anniversary of her daughter Claudia going missing from her home in York, and yet Joan never gives up hope or stops thinking of others who are trying to come to terms with tragedy.
Stress led to Joan losing her hair but, through this column in October, she unveiled her new wig and talked openly about her alopecia in the hope of inspiring others affected by hair loss. We frequently meet up for a coffee and her courage in the midst of the most heartbreaking ordeal never ceases to amaze me.

The Northern Echo:

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR: Mike McGrother is such a force for good in Stockton-on-Tees. He was utterly tireless and brimming with creativity as he co-ordinated the town’s efforts to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. If every community had a Mike McGrother, the world would be an infinitely better place.

The Northern Echo:

HERO OF THE YEAR: What a privilege it was to meet 93-year-old Stan Instone during a memorial service in June for those who served at RAF Middleton St George. Stan told me how he’d been on a bombing mission on board a Lancaster in 1945 and was approaching Dortmund when his plane was hit by a Messerschmitt. The pilot gave the instruction to bale out but Stan saw the rear-gunner was trapped by ice that had formed around his gun turret. As Stan tried to help, he watched the rear-gunner turn his turret round so that flames melted the ice. He went out backwards, wriggling out of his boot that had got stuck, and parachuted to safety wearing one boot. Stan told the story as if it’s the kind of thing that happens every day.

The Northern Echo:

POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR: The 70-year-old Mayor of Loftus, Councillor Barry Hunt, who slept out in the cold at local cenotaphs on 11 nights leading up to Remembrance Sunday to raise money for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. 

The Northern Echo:

INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR: Julie Scurfield, who was named our overall Local Hero in December, for the impact she’s made on girls’ football in County Durham. From scratch, she’s built the Chester-le-Street Amazons into a club where 130 girls are enjoying the sport they love and thriving as young people.

The Northern Echo:

SMILE OF THE YEAR: No contest – it belongs to 15-year-old Harry Brown. What a pleasure it was to meet Harry who, despite having Down’s Syndrome, is a highly-respected coach with the aforementioned Chester-le-Street Amazons Football Club. Keep inspiring others Harry – and keep smiling.

The Northern Echo:

GENTLEMAN OF THE YEAR: Alan Frankland, 85, who marked the centenary of the end of the First World War by swimming 100 miles at his local leisure centre in Redcar. Utterly charming, impeccable manners and canny swimmer.

The Northern Echo:

HIGH ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR: Darlington father-of-two Steve Graham who raised more than £15,000 for St Teresa’s Hospice and Prostate cancer UK by climbing Everest and Mount Vinson in the Antarctic in the same year as part of his mission to climb the highest peaks in the seven continents. His wife Hollie deserves a medal too!

The Northern Echo:

EMBARRASSMENT OF THE YEAR: Me, compering the “Making A Difference Awards” for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley's NHS Foundation Trust, at Scotch Corner Hotel, in March. It was all going so well until, I stood on a chair to take a photo of the winners and split my trousers right up to my crotch. Perhaps surprisingly, they’ve asked me back for 2019.

The Northern Echo:

PET OF THE YEAR: Buddy, the labradoodle, came back from a walk with my neighbor Liz Petty in Hurworth-on-Tees, having retrieved a set of dentures. It transpired they belonged to a pensioner from Accrington, who’d lost them during a trip north to visit his family. When I was told he was called Robin Barker, I knew I had a story that would go mad.

The Northern Echo:

GOOD SPORT OF THE YEAR: Richie Young turned up for his stag-do at Redcar Races in October in an inflatable horse outfit – and was made to parade round the paddock by his mates. They even made him neigh.

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LESSON OF THE YEAR: Always check that the headline and the advert don’t clash…

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NEWSBILL OF THE YEAR: Well, it definitely got me interested…

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MISPRINT OF THE YEAR: Every newspaper has them and The Northern Echo managed to make me choke on my coffee with a classic news-in-brief item from Darlington...

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Here’s hoping that every road you take in 2019 is free of obstacles and leads to peace and happiness.