Honouring ordinary Islanders who do extraordinary things, the awards are the centrepiece of the newspaper’s year of 125th anniversary celebrations.
Hosted by footballing legend Graeme Le Saux and singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot – both of whom are flying in especially for the awards – the unique ceremony will take place at Aviation Beauport and will see the overall winners in each of the 11 categories announced.
Billed as ‘a celebration of Island life’ and ‘a chance to help honour Jersey’s community heroes’, the awards saw hundreds of Islanders nominated in categories ranging from Community Champion and Unsung Sporting Hero to Neigbour and Teacher of the Year.
This summer, more than 15,000 votes were cast – both online and through the Jersey Evening Post – and the newspaper has recently been revealing the three finalists in each category.
Judges met last week at the Hotel de France to decide on the final winners in each category, and their choices will be revealed at Wednesday’s event, for which Aviation Beauport have been pulling out all of the stops to create an extra-special location for an awards ceremony like no other.
Each of the 11 awards had three judges; a representative from the company sponsoring that category, a senior JEP employee and an independent judge, who had some kind of expertise or experience in that particular field.
Former England international Graeme, who won the Premiership with Blackburn Rovers and the FA Cup with Chelsea, said that he jumped at the chance to co-host the awards.
Speaking to the JEP from his home in Majorca last month, the former St Paul’s and Muratti footballer said: ‘Community has always played a major role in what makes Jersey unique and special.
‘The Pride of Jersey awards are a wonderful way to celebrate and recognise people who have made outstanding contributions to those around them.
‘While all those nominated do not make this effort in order to be singled out, it is an opportunity for the whole Island to acknowledge them and to say thank you.’
Meanwhile, Nerina is taking time out of her busy schedule to co-host the ceremony.
The singer, who released her new album, The Sound and the Fury, earlier this month, said: ‘While my career in the music industry may mean that it is essential for me to be based in London, Jersey is the place that I have always considered to be my home.
‘So it is therefore a real privilege for me to be able to be involved in an event which honours and celebrates those people who make the Island such a special place.
‘I am both delighted and proud to be hosting the Pride of Jersey Awards and I look forward to meeting some of the wonderful nominees.’
