DAZZLING, incredible and phenomenal are just some of the words our judges used about the nominations for the Pride of Scotland Awards.
The panel, chaired by Daily Record & Sunday Mail Editor in Chief David Dick, met back in April to deliberate over the shortlisted finalists for our people’s Oscars.
From acts of kindness and selfless bravery to raising thousands of pounds for charity and changing the lives of others, choosing the winners was extremely difficult.
It took three hours for the panel, which included award hosts actress and comedian Elaine C Smith and TV and radio star Sanjeev Kohli, to narrow down the field.
Ten winners were chosen in six categories, including Child of Courage, TSB Community Hero, Emergency Services, Lifetime Achievement, Prince’s Trust Award and Special Recognition.
Hours of deliberation around a table in Glagsow’s Kimpton Blytheswood Square Hotel, ended in the selection of a group of incredible unsung heroes, whose stories will gladden hearts and make us proud to be Scots.
Chair David said: “Judging was an incredibly emotional experience and having to choose between the shortlisted finalists was a difficult and heart wrenching task.
There are so many people doing great things in communities across Scotland. These awards are the perfect opportunity to give them the recognition they deserve. They are truly inspirational.”
Elaine C Smith, who will take to the stage for the second time as host of The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, in partnership with TSB, said: “I was a blubbering wreck by the end of the judging. It was incredibly humbling to read about the ordinary people who are achieving the extraordinary throughout this nation. I was greeting reading their stories and I can only imagine what I am going to be like on the night.”
Her co-host Still Game’s Sanjeev added: “Never have I felt so proud to be Scottish. We may be a wee country but we have heroes coming out our ears. I can’t wait to celebrate their achievements.”
Also on the distinguished judging panel were: Anne Armstrong, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer; Bobby Hain, Managing Director of Broadcast at STV; Robin Bulloch, TSB, Interim Chief Executive; Shiraz Lalani, Pride of Britain’s Editorial Director; Superintendent David Sharp of Police Scotland; Sally McLean Daily Record & Sunday Mail Head of Features and Executive Producer Yvonne Alexander.
TSB’s Robin Bulloch said: “I am incredibly excited to be involved in this brilliant event. Being a judge was humbling. It makes you proud to be Scottish.”
Superintendent David Sharp added: “Judging one person’s bravery and courage against another’s was a near impossible task. We are so lucky to live in a country where so many go the extra mile for others.”
STV’s Bobby Hain was equally impressed. He said: “Wow, any one of the shortlisted nominations could have been a winner. It was an honour to be involved in the judging process but it wasn’t an easy task.”
Our ten incredible unsung heroes will be celebrated at a glittering ceremony at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms on Tuesday, June 21, and will be attended by a myriad of stars from TV, sport and music.
Winners will be announced in Tuesday’s Daily Record with coverage continuing over the next few weeks.
- The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, in partnership with TSB, will broadcast on STV in July
