The winners of the Examiner’s 2001 community awards have been announced at a glittering ceremony at Huddersfield’s McAlpine Stadium.

Around 250 guests heard tales of courage, dedication, compassion and kindness as the winners of the 12 awards were announced.

The awards included the Services To Charity Award, won by Bill Exley, who has raised more than £800,000 for breast cancer charities. The award for courage was won by eight-year-old Russell Shepherd, whose bravery through his disability shone through.

Russell, who suffers from a rare brain condition, won the audience’s heart with his determination to walk on stage to collect his award.

In addition to the 12 awards, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to tycoon Lawrence Batley, who has ploughed more than £1m into sports and arts in Huddersfield.

The 90-year-old, who founded the hugely successful Batleys plc cash and carry business in 1958, received a standing ovation as he received his trophy from Examiner editor John Williams.

Mr Williams said: “The tales of courage, dedication and uplifting deeds at the first ever Examiner awards last year were beyond our expectations.

“I thought that those extraordinary accounts would be hard to match in any future awards ceremony. I have been proved wrong.

“Huddersfield has shown once again that we have more than our fair share of people to be proud of. They serve as an example for others to follow.”

Examiner managing director John Griffith added: “These awards are about the kind neighbour, the business that proves it cares about its customers and its community, the charity that demonstrates it really can make a difference, those people who realise they have got something out of their village or their town and now want to put something back.”

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