Newspaper staff from the south west gathered to celebrate their achievements in the past 12 months at the Western Newspapers’ Oscars.
Staff from Bath Newspapers, Clevedon Newspapers, Mid Somerset Newspapers, Taunton Newspapers and the Western Gazette Company attended a Northcliffe awards evening at the Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, where more than 30 prizes were handed out to those working in editorial and advertising.
Among the winners was Christian Lockyer from Mid Somerset Newspapers, who was named Reporter of the Year, and Gabi Woolgar from the Bath Chronicle who won the award for Feature Writer of the Year.
Charles Oliver from the Taunton Times was named Sports Journalist of the Year and the Bath Chronicle’s Sam Farr picked up Photographer of the Year, while Wendy Walker from the Somerset Standard & Guardian collected Scoop of the Year.
A special prize for trainee of the year, named the Katharine Rainey Memorial Award in memory of the young Clevedon Mercury journalist who died in November 2003, was awarded to Anna Mansell from the Bath Chronicle.
The celebration evening, which had a beach party theme, featured Beach Boys tribute band.
A full list of editorial winners is below:
Reporter of the Year
Christian Lockyer, Mid Somerset Newspapers
Feature Writer of the Year
Gabi Woolgar, Bath Chronicle
Sports Journalist of the Year
Charles Oliver, Taunton Times
Photographer of the Year
Sam Farr, Bath Chronicle
Katharine Rainey Memorial Award for Trainee of the Year
Anna Mansell, Bath Chronicle
Design Journalist of the Year
Darren Risby, Bath Chronicle
Headline of the Year
Carol Vincent, Mid Somerset Newspapers
Scoop of the Year
Wendy Walker, Standard & Guardian
Production Person of the Year
Sally Goodall, Bath Newspapers
Editorial Supplement of the Year
Darren Risby, Business Monthly Bath Newspapers
Editorial Assistant of the Year
Rebecca Byrne, Western Gazette