From interviewing Tom Hanks and Samuel L Jackson to presenting the Crawley Community Awards

Duff Eynon has been working in professional entertainment since 2002 when he became of the regular faces on CBBC’s ‘Xchange’ television show, where he interviewed the likes of Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Black and more!

In 2006 he began playing part time with Crawley based showband ‘Flairz’ for as the bass player.

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This became a regular posting and he went on to tour the UK for a number of years. Duff was born and bred in Crawley and is pleased to be able to get involved with so many events in and around the town.

In 2019 he trained at the Hawth Theatre to become a duty manager, which is a role that he says he loves.

He says that “working with a fantastic team of people in a buzzing, live theatre that has so much to offer. As a job, it doesn’t get much better. I have missed it terribly during lockdown”.

Duff is also a professional Santa Claus! Yep, they exist. And without doubt, is one of his most favourite jobs as an entertainer for so many reasons.

He was thrilled to be asked to ‘chair’ the grotto at Tilgate’s Magical Christmas in 2019. In the five years he has been performing as Santa, he’s often been elsewhere so he was thrilled to get the call.

In recent years he has hosted Forward Motion, The Mayor’s Charity Ball and The Re-opening of Queens Square.

In 2018, he was honoured to host the Beacon of Light ceremony at Tilgate where beacons were lit up and down the country to commemorate 100 years the end of WW1. 2020 marks Duff’s fourth consecutive year hosting The Crawley Community Awards, which he is so proud have been asked back for.

The event is moving and Inspiring with bravery and selflessness like nothing he has known making for a wonderful and very humbling evening.

He says that Crawley has offered him so many opportunities, hosting the evening is nice way of giving something back.

For full information and to nominate online, please visit www.crawleycommunityawards.org; Nominations in writing can be sent to: Crawley Community Awards, Crawley Borough Council, The Boulevard, Crawley RH10 1UZ. To nominate by email or for queries, please email [email protected]

The 16 categories

Fundraiser

Community Group

Environment

Sports Team

Sports Person

Performing Arts

Special Recognition

Education

Charity

Volunteer

Volunteer Group

Support Group

Achievement

Group Achievement

Local Hero

Inspiration