Some of the region’s unsung heroes will rightfully be honoured at this year’s Pride of Manchester Awards in a live-streamed ceremony this evening.
The annual ceremony – which is now in its second year – aims to celebrate community champions from the region who go the extra mile to help out other people, but instead of a glitzy awards show this year, the event will be held online.
This is of course due to local lockdown restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Pride of Manchester Awards 2020 – in association with TSB and the MEN – will be streamed live across The Pride of Britain’s social media platforms and can be watched on Facebook and YouTube.
Packed with inspirational winners, emotional moments and amazing celebrity surprises, the special ceremony – which is hosted by Kym Marsh – is set to be the perfect pick-me-up during these difficult times, and will also see the courage and dedication of frontline NHS staff during the pandemic honoured.
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There will be no shortage of famous faces either, with everyone from Little Mix to Olly Murs set to make an appearance and celebrate the winners.
The ceremony is due to begin at 7pm BST.
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Here are this year’s set of inspirational individuals who will be honoured this evening.
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Isabella Hibbert
Child of Courage
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Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
Isabella Hibbert – a courageous youngster from Oldham, who was just four at the time – managed to find and unlock her Mum Chelsea’s phone to called 999 for an ambulance after she collapsed and fell unconscious on the kitchen floor.
The young hero – who is now six – was able to give the call handler her address so that they could send help.
She also clearly answered questions asked by the handler, such as “is your Mummy breathing?”, and “is your mummy awake?”.
She then dragged her chair from the living room to the front door, so she could reach the keys to open it for the paramedics, before ringing her Grandmother – again on Chelsea’s phone – to tell her what had happened.
Chelsea, 29, was taken to hospital and has since made a full recovery.
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Katie Holmes
Teenager of Courage
Katie Holmes has cerebral palsy, but refuses to let her condition define her.
Her condition was caused by a bleed on the brain when she was born prematurely at 28 weeks, and since then, she has had to undergo five major operations to help her walk. She currently has metal rods in her legs and also uses sticks for support, but “selfless” Katie has dedicated her time to help raise money to help others.
She has taken on several challenges – including the Great Manchester Run – to help pay for her ongoing physiotherapy.
This year, she is running 2k to raise funds for the Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society.
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Luchia Fitzgerald
Lifetime Achievement Award
Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
Luchia has been a trailblazing campaigner for LGBT and women’s rights for 60 years.
She arrived in the city from her native Ireland as a teenager in 1961 after she had fled a physically and emotionally abusive upbringing with her grandmother – who beat her after she found out she was gay – and then found refuge at the New Union Hotel.
She was one of the founders of the first women’s refuge outside London, and helped organise a monumental march against Clause 28 in the 1980s. The 73-year-old is now chair of Irwell Valley Homes residents group, and she advocates for the LGBT community – in particular for older LGBT people – whose needs are overlooked in housing and care planning.
She said: “I was shocked and overwhelmed to win the Pride of Manchester Award.
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“Experiencing such misery in my youth is what drove me to make a world a better place.”
Paul Redfern
TSB Community Spirit Award
Paul Redfern leads a group of lifesaving bikers – Blood Bikes Manchester – who deliver vital blood supplies where they are most urgently needed to hospitals.
He set up the group 2012 after losing his right leg in a serious motorbike accident aged 18 and having his life saved by an emergency blood transfusion. Last year, his team of volunteers saved local NHS and hospice services around £340,000 after completing 18 emergency runs, 564 urgent runs, and 680 non urgent and routine sample runs on their bikes.
Paul said he was “delighted” with his award.
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Jim Nicholas
Fundraiser of the Year
Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
DJ and Elvis impersonator Jim Nicholas has raised an impressive amount for Francis House Children’s Hospice.
Retired Jim – who worked as Head Gardener for the Bishop of Salford – has been performing in pubs and clubs for more than half a century, and over the past 25 years, he has put out a collection box during his shows at hundreds of venues across Greater Manchester and beyond.
In that time, delighted audiences have donated more than £200,000.
Joseph Hibbert
Young Fundraiser
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Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
10-year-old Joseph Hibbert from Cheadle Hulme has raised more than £32,000 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital since he was just three, and hopes to raise another £10,000 when he and his friends climb Kinder Scout – the highest point in the Peak District – next year.
His Mum Shelley said: “It’s been a difficult few months with the pandemic, but I do think that doing good inspires other people to do good things too”.
Marcus Rashford
Special Recognition Award
Wythenshawe-born Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has won a Special Recognition Award for his remarkable campaign to #EndChildFoodPoverty
The 22-year-old convinced government ministers to make the u-turn on plans to end free school meals over the summer, which resulted in around 200,000 disadvantaged children being able to access food and support during the break.
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He continues to speak openly on the urgent issue on social media and in various media appearances.
Maggie Oliver
Special Recognition Award
Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
Maggie Oliver – former Greater Manchester Police Detective – became a fearless whistleblower who exposed catastrophic failures to protect child victims of grooming gangs.
She bravely spoke out after Operation Augusta – a widespread investigation into a suspected grooming network – was dropped in the mid-00s, where eight of the potential suspects went on to rape or abuse other women and girls. In January this year, Maggie was vindicated by a damning independent review – which found police and social services knew girls were being abused, but failed to protect them – and that Operation Augusta had been shut down, because police were not prepared to commit resources to it.
Speaking of her award, Maggie said: “After all the doom and gloom it was much needed.
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“I was totally overwhelmed and it feels fantastic to be appreciated with this award.”
Dr Gerry O’Shea
Special Recognition Award
Pride of Manchester Awards 2020
GP Gerry O’Shea has been treating homeless people in the city for more than 20 years.
He does so from The Urban Village medical practice in Ancoats, where around 750 homeless patients have registered there, using the address of the practice.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Gerry took a decision to open his surgery to people who are homeless here in the city of Manchester. He gives them help, vital healthcare, support to get off the street, but more than that, treats them with dignity and respect.”
Trending
Breakaway competition R360 issues statement after rubgy unions warn players of sanctions
Danny Jones
Prospective breakaway competition R360 have issued a response to the joint statement from multiple countries’ rugby unions, which has warned players of sanctions should they choose to join the new league.
While the vast majority seemingly remain opposed to the new concept, backing from certain key figures has resulted in the likes of the UK and Irish rugby unions, along with other key nations, sharing their unified stance against the potential rival.
Put in the simplest terms, the R360 model is rugby’s equivalent of what the proposed European ‘Super League’ was for football just a few years ago, with similar questions being raised around how it could jeopardise existing contests, player wellbeing and more.
Now, though, the new format – which has been largely backed and developed by former World Cup winner with England, Mike Tindall – delivered its own reply on Wednesday, 8 October.
Shared publicly to the press, the alternative tournament wrote: “It’s not always easy to embrace new opportunities, but as we’ve seen throughout history, it’s essential for any sport to grow. So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game, and we can’t wait to kick off next year.
“Player welfare is one of the key reasons for creating our global series, which will greatly reduce player load and capture the attention of a new generation of fans globally. We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.
“The series is designed with bespoke schedules for men’s and women’s teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts. Our philosophy is clear – if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way?
“We look forward to submitting to the World Rugby Council for sanctioning next summer as planned.”
At present, R360 is due to hold its inagural season this time next year, with eight new male teams and four women’s sides expected to get underway from October 2026 onwards.
In addition to more lucrative contracts like those promised in the IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket, LIV Golf and the aforementioned albeit failed Super League, R360 is also set to offer a reduced playing schedule but one that would still tempt athletes away from their current teams to new franchises.
The national rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy have released the following statement on the proposed R360 competition ⬇️#IrishRugby
Although they have assured player care is an utmost priority, their health and fitness is one of my concerns put forward by the total eight rubgy unions who have urged current pros to stay away from the breakaway competition.
In case you haven’t seen the statement release by England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, it begins by “urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition.”
Assuring that they welcome “investment and innovation in rugby”, they feel this particular idea won’t improve the sport but could instead “fragment or weaken it.”
Having assessed the proposals supposed value/addition to the “rugby’s global ecosystem”, it seems the fear is that the outcome will be a “net negative to the game”, with little to no detail as to how it can run alongside existing fixtures, assure proper management of player welfare and more.
As for Wales, despite opting not to put their name to the open letter itself, they have stated publicly: “The Welsh Rugby Union supports this statement, and we’re considering changes we may need to make to qualification rules in Wales as part of ongoing analysis following our recent consultation process.”
The statement continues: “The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.”
It seems there is deep concern for how it could affect grassroots and the international rugby too, not just league and union, and have failed to full explain or help key organisations “better understand their business and operating model.”
Most notably, they sign off by adding: “Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”
What do you make of the whole debate – do you like the current schedule/format as it is, or do you think there’s room for a new chapter in the rugby world?
New CGIs released of Hilton’s fancy 144-bedroom hotel in Wigan town centre
Emily Sergeant
Some new CGIs have given us a sneak peak inside Hilton’s fancy 144-bedroom hotel soon to open in Wigan town centre.
In case this is the first you’re hearing of the development, Wigan Council announced back in March 2024 in collaboration with its development partner Cityheart that it had signed a franchise agreement with world-renowned hotel brand, Hilton, for a stunning six-storey Hampton by Hilton hotel pop up right in the heart of Wigan town centre, just off Market Street.
The new venture forms part of the Greater Manchester town’s £135 million redevelopment of the former Galleries Shopping Centre – which was approved in July 2023.
The hotel will be located directly-opposite the bus station entrance of New Market Street, and is within 500 yards of both town centre train stations.
It’s being called ‘one of the most important elements’ of the Galleries masterplan.
New CGIs have been released of Hilton’s fancy 144-bedroom hotel in Wigan town centre / Credit: Supplied
As well as the 144 bedrooms – with ‘accessible’ rooms to be built on each accommodation level – the new hotel will also house a gym overlooking the new square, a main reception area and dining space on the ground floor, meeting and conference rooms, and secure parking will be available for guests.
Dozens of staff are expected to be employed at the new hotel – which the Council says will provide a range of job opportunities for local residents.
Once complete, the hotel will form part of the exciting new town centre neighbourhood providing a new Market Hall and food court, more than 400 homes, bars, restaurants, and leisure uses, all designed to celebrate Wigan’s proud heritage and unique identity.
The new venture forms part of the Greater Manchester town’s £135 million redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“It’s great to see the progress of this exciting Hampton by Hilton development, which not only plays a role in Wigan’s regeneration, but continues to strengthen our footprint in the North West,” commented Paul Blackmore, who is the Vice President of Development at Hilton UK & Ireland, as the CGIs were released this week.
“The ambition shown by Wigan Council and Cityheart to create a dynamic new hub for retail, leisure, business and living truly resonated with us, and we look forward to welcoming guests when the hotel opens in late 2027.”
Emily Sergeant -
1st October 2020 
