The best of Bexhill celebrated in glitzy awards ceremony

Eddie, who had taken time out from his smash hit three month sell-out tour of the USA, grew up in Sidley and was on a brief return visit home. He attended the ceremony to present two awards, including the Overall Achiever Award to his father John Izzard.

Click here to watch a slideshow of the night

John was presented the award in recognition for the vast amount of work he has done locally - selflessly devoting himself in retirement to improving Bexhill and in particular his home town of Sidley, where he actively works with the Sidley Community Association.

Among his many achievements, John has been at the forefront of social change within the area for projects such as the creation of Bexhill Community Partnership, Sidley Children's Centre, the Adult Learning Centre and the Young People's Centre - of which son Eddie is also a Patron.

John said winning the award was a complete surprise for him, and on receiving it from Eddie was clearly overwhelmed and simply said: " Thank you all very much - I am staggered."

Earlier in the evening Eddie, who is a patron of the De La Warr Pavilion, also presented the awards for the Young Musician of the Year, a category sponsored by the pavilion.

He received warm, rapturous applause and addressing the packed auditorium jokingly said: "When I was invited along tonight I thought there were only going to be about twenty people here!"

Eddie delighted guests by happily signing autographs and chatting to people throughout the evening.

Hosting the event were popular BBC South East Today presenter Beverly Thompson and group editor of the Observer Series, Peter Lindsey.

Other guest of honour included Town Mayor Patrick Douart and chairman of Rother District Council Joanne Gadd.

Cllr Gadd had been one of the judges of the awards, and helped make the difficult final decisions from the hundreds of nominations, along with Mike Conn, head of Bexhill High School and Peter Lindsey.

Mayor Douart said the evening was a very important social occasion for Bexhill and said: "This is a wonderful event - we need more events like this in Bexhill."

The entertainment commenced with a delicious two-course meal after which the awards got underway and, as always, the town of Bexhill produced an amazing variety of special people being duly rewarded for their achievements.

They came from all walks of life and of all ages - young and elderly, frail and healthy, brave and dedicated, and listening to their stories was both heartfelt and at times emotional.

Here is a snippet from this very special event:

Winning the award for Courageous Young Person of the Year was five-year-old Damian Smith. He'd heroically dialled 999 and saved his mum's life when she collapsed with a seizure.

Beverly Thompson asked him what he'd done to receive the award, he said: "I dialled 999." Beverly then said: "Your Mum's very lucky to have you isn't she?"

To which Damian replied: "Yes."

St Richards Catholic College student Chelsea Harris was voted as one of the Students of the Year and despite dealing with type one diabetes her nominator said: "She cannot be praised enough, she is cheerful and giving - she gives everything."

Chelsea hopes one day to train to be a teacher and Beverly asked her how she does it and Chelsea replied: "I just keep happy."

Boosting and promoting Bexhill and winning the Leisure Attraction of the Year award was Alastair Hazell for his 'Discover Bexhill Website'. It receives approximately 600 hits a day and has contributed a phenomenal 40,000 to the towns tourism industry this year.

Best Community Group first runners-up Glenco Football club has a classic moto: "Fun is mandatory; winning is a bonus."

One of the nominations for the 'Oasis' coffee shop - who won the Business of the Year Award said: "Oasis is an apt name as that is exactly what it provides."

A winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Harold Lawrence was described by his nominator as giving his time to 'bring joy and happiness to others.' Among Harold's many achievements was his forming of the 1066 Specials - a scheme to give children and adults with special needs and disabilities the opportunity to play and receive football coaching, because he realised that football brings people together.

During an interval in the proceedings people were treated to a delightful musical interlude provided by talented students of St Richard's Catholic College.

A raffle held during the evening - with prizes kindly donated by local businesses - raised 500 for charity.

The Observer and the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce are very grateful to the De La Warr Pavilion for hosting the ceremony, for the generous support of our sponsors and to all who contributed to make the Bexhill Achievers Awards such a resounding success.

The winners:

Charity of the Year Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary;

Courageous Young Person Damian Smith;

Residents of the Year, Joint Winners Alma & Patrick Rooney and Jim & Patricia Irvine;

Carer of the Year Julie Wilson-Canning;

Gill Hamilton Young Person of the Year Joint Winners Keaton Peppiatt and Rupert Mitchell;

Young Sportsperson runner-up Stefan Emary, runner-up Andrew Woods, runners-up Sam Colins and Alison Beckingham, winner Ben Wells;

Students of the Year Chelsea Harris and Sarah Campbell;

Young Musician of the Year runner-up Emma Victoria Webb runner-up, winner Emily Ball;

999 Award PC Vikkie Ambrose, PC Steve Prince, PC Jen Perryman, Sgt Ch Donald;

Lifetime Achievement John Cox, Michael Brooks and Harold Lawrence;

Volunteer of the Year runners-up John Watson, Ken Duce, winner Mark Parris;

Leisure Attraction of the Year, runner-up Bexhill library, winner Alastair Hazell for Discover Bexhill website;

Best Community Group runners-up Glenco Football club, runner-up Bexhill Choral Society, winner Bexhill Voluntary Day Care Centres For The Elderly;

Business of the Year runners-up Wa Waas Wool'n Bits, The Cats' Whiskers and Paws-A-While, winners Oasis Coffee Shop;

Sports Personality runners-up Denise & Lyndsey Hodd, Rose Rainton, winner Mavis Moore;

Sports Team, runner-up Bexhill Rowing Club, winner Bexhill United Football Club;

Healthcare worker, runner-up John Slater, winner Wendy Dick;

Services to Education winners Pat Strickson, Linda Gunstone, The Pathways Unit;

Services to Bexhill Pearly King & Queen, Colin & Mary Whiting;

Overall Achiever 2008 John Izzard.