A RECORD 242 Islanders were nominated and more than 24,400 votes cast in this year’s Pride of Jersey Awards – and now it is time to reveal the finalists.
Following a public vote, three people in each category (with the exception of Neighbour of the Year where a tie resulted in four Islanders making the shortlist) who polled the highest will be judged by a panel comprising a previous winner, a JEP staff member and a representative of the award sponsor.
The finalists will all be invited to the awards ceremony next month, where they will find out if they have been crowned a Pride of Jersey winner.
The event takes place at Albert Bartlett’s headquarters on Trinity Hill on Wednesday 11 October, and will be hosted by comedian and poet John Henry Falle and soprano Georgi Mottram.
The finalists will be featured in the JEP everyday from Tuesday.
Ambassador of the Year
Cheryl Hibbs: A 70-year-old grandmother, recognised for her decades of service to volunteering, and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the RNLI and Jersey Lifeboat Association.
Hayley Goldacre: For running the Mum Club, a local ‘inclusive space’ which gives advice and support to young or new mothers.
Peter Wright: For his dedication to Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey, including doing numerous sport challenges and raising over £30,000.
Angel of the Year
Amy Hall: Mind Jersey’s mental-health practitioner, who supports young people and encourages others to go out and help those in need.
Jocelyn O’Connell: Ward sister who cared for her nominator’s husband in the Rozel Ward at the Hospital.
J J Gallagher: For voluntarily searching and finding lost dogs alongside his rescue dog, Sammy.
Child of the Year
Mara Frunza: For her continued hard work and success as an aspiring ballerina.
Saskia Ruddy: For organising the now annual event, Run for Kezia, after losing one of her best friends to suicide.
Nixon Hansford: For being a ‘superstar’ despite suffering from muscle myopathy.
Community Champion of the Year
Rhona Hewit: The owner of the much-loved Gorey-based café Rhona’s at the Beach.
Jo Abraham: For running the Jersey Cat Search Group Facebook page, searching for missing cats in all weather conditions.
Marina Brockbank: Jersey Hospice Care’s community events co-ordinator, who also works alongside the National Trust for Jersey, and created the 30 Bays in 30 Days challenge.
Customer Service Employee of the Year
Louise Ahmed: Receptionist at Smile Dental clinic, described as being ‘an asset to the business’.
Rachel Venton: For going the extra mile to ensure the customers at Age Concern Jersey are looked after, by providing tea, cakes and chats.
Neal Montgomery: For his ‘dedicated and tireless work’ as an additional-needs partner at Waitrose St Saviour.
Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year
Toni Cooper: Founder of local support group We Believe You Belong, which raises awareness about neurodivergence in children.
Penelope Shurmer: Jersey Employment Trust’s chief executive, who provides work and career opportunities to Islanders with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Natasha Sim: For her role as a team adviser with the Social, Emotional and Mental Health Inclusion Team, who supports children with managing challenging behaviour.
Environmentalist of the Year
Alastair Christie and the Asian Hornet Facebook Group: For their efforts in containing and controlling the Island’s Asian hornet population.
Louise Carson: For her involvement with multiple environmental projects, including setting up Jersey Sustainable Period Products and Borrow a Bucket.
Jennifer Bridge: Founder of the Grouville Repair Café, which has been running the monthly pop-up repair shop for a year.
Grandparent(s) of the Year
Sue and Fred Pickering: For helping their family move back to Jersey, even with full-time jobs as carers.
Ruth Doran: For working full-time, caring for her husband with Parkinson’s, all the while still ‘always being there for her two grandchildren’.
George Noel: The caretaker of Trinity School, president of the Grouville football team, and ‘a loving grandparent’.
Inspirational Leader of the Year
Kirstie Ross: Emergency Department doctor and mother of two, who remains hardworking despite receiving treatment for breast cancer.
Mark Baker: Motivational speaker, who overcame stage 3 cancer, who inspires business leaders, athletes and other individuals.
Caroline Terry: Girlguiding lead ranger, nominated by one of the guides, for her ‘love and commitment’ as she retires this year.
Mental Health Champion of the Year
Adam Grocott: Organiser of Wednesday Night FC partnered with mental-health charity Mind Jersey.
Ronan Mulhern: Specialist nurse who has helped hundreds of bereaved families struggling with mental health.
Sophie Briggs: Wellbeing facilitator at Samarès Primary School, described as ‘giving the best cuddles’ to students she supports.
Neighbour of the Year
Barbara Bekusch: For supporting and looking after all her neighbours in the estate.
Danielle and Aidan Martin: Looking after the neighbour’s cat for nine months as their young daughter had to receive cancer treatment in Southampton.
Lisa Charlton: Supported her neighbour while he was recovering after cancer treatment.
Jim Smith: Helped nominator’s late husband, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Teacher of the Year
Katie Walsh: Jersey College Prep teacher, nominated by parent, for making her child feel ‘safe at school’.
Heather Bugbird: St Lawrence School teaching assistant for her dedication and working out-of-hours for 15 years.
Chris Jones: Head of Year for over 170 students, as well as being a PE and History teacher.
Volunteer / Fundraiser of the Year
Rebecca Michieli: Creating a fundraiser for the families of two Filipino crew members who died, alongside her father, Michael, when their boat sank following a collision with a ferry.
Evelyn Martin-Foley: Voluntary group leader of the 6th Jersey Scout Group, who has supported both the children and staff.
Tom Stead: For taking part in multiple fundraising events including Run for Cass, Kick On charity football matches and a London to Paris cycle challenge.
Young Ambassador of the Year
Chloe Russell: A gold-medal-winning Team GB artistic gymnast, who suffers with cerebral palsy, who competed at the Special Olympics.
Charlotte Pope: For participating in many activities such as gymnastics, cycling and paddle-boarding regardless of suffering from hyper-mobility and undergoing speech therapy.
Joseph Daws: For earning a place at the University of Oxford studying chemistry despite having dyslexia.
