Sports and Culture Awards recognise best of Knowsley

Outstanding achievements in sport and culture were recognised at an awards ceremony in Knowsley tonight (Friday, 13 October).

The winners of the 2017 Knowsley Sports and Culture Awards enjoyed an evening compared by Radio City’s Steve Hothersall. Giving out the awards was this year’s special guest Frank Cottrell Boyce, children’s novelist and film-maker.

The awards took place at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park and rewarded individuals, teams and schools who have made great achievements in sports or culture, or who have helped and inspired others to do so.

Lifetime achievement award

Lifetime Achievement – Winner, Vernon Davis.

This year’s big award, for Lifetime Achievement, went to Vernon Davis, who has spent the last three decades as a swimming coach in Halewood, teaching thousands of young people to swim. Even at the age of 89, Vernon still loves to coach and spends up to three hours a night, three times a week, working with Bridgefield Swimming Club and is greatly respected and admired by all in the sport.

Young Artist of the Year went to 18-year-old singer Sonny Fielding, a former St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning pupil.

As a young tenor, Sonny has performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the opening night of the proms, singing as part of the BC Proms Youth Choir, and has won a scholarship to study singing at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has also been an active performer in the Knowsley Music Services ensembles for many years.

Also awarded on the night was Adult Artist of the Year, Gill Cowley, who, as well as volunteering with Kirkby Gallery is herself an exceptionally talented emerging artist, having won prizes for her photography and painting.

Prescot Festival of Music and Arts was named Cultural Organisation of the Year, while Knowsley South FC were Club of the Year.

The evening concluded with the awarding of the Special Award for outstanding Contribution to Health and Wellbeing, which went to Chris Wills from Knowsley Harriers running club. Chris’s dedication to giving others the opportunity to enjoy running has seen him work tirelessly to bring Park Run to the borough, and introduce Knowsley’s first ‘Couch to 5k’ programme for total beginners.

Many of Knowsley’s schools were recognised on the night too, including St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning, which picked up the ‘Schools Cultural Educational Achievement of the Year’ award.

An evening of top entertainment

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary school choir

Guests at the awards enjoyed a packed programme of entertainment, including performances from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School choir, Anneliese Hamilton theatre school, Mason Brown Connection Big Band and musician John O’Connell.

There was also an inspirational talk by Team GB Paralympian Jack Hunter Spivey.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Wellbeing and Customer Services, said:

“It’s been a fantastic night with some really talented, generous and inspirational local people recognised.

Musician John O’Connell performs at Knowsley Sports and Culture Awards 2017

“We are so lucky to have so much rich culture and sporting success in the borough, and it’s wonderful to come together and recognise those achievements at these annual awards.

“Congratulations to all our winners – we hope that their awards will serve as a reminder that hard work and dedication can lead to great success in your chosen field.”