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Events, News
Winners of the Great Big Thank You Awards will be invited to an awards ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Shropshire breakfast presenter Eric Smith.

He explains why he is delighted to be involved in this year’s Great Big Thank You Awards campaign:

“It means such a lot when people say thank you!

“It’s quite humbling to meet people featured in The Great Big Thank You Awards – they don’t do things for reward, or to receive your thanks, but they certainly do make a difference in their local community. It’s easy to think that someone else will get involved and do something, but there are those who just get in there and get on with it! Maybe you know someone who deserves a great big thank you for a job well done.

“It certainly brings communities together, and with your help, it’s nice to say ‘thank you’.”

Eric, who has fronted BBC Radio Shropshire’s breakfast show for the past 22 years, is one of the most familiar and best-loved broadcasters in the county. He is also well-known for his star turns in the Christmas pantomimes at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn.

Eric, 67, took over the breakfast show in 1997, and over the past eight years has forged a popular double act with co-presenter Clare Ashford.

He moved to Shropshire in 1988, when appointed to an off-air role at the station, having previously worked as a nightclub DJ and record librarian at BBC Sheffield.

When he first took up his post, as assistant station manager, he was not expecting to stay around, but quickly fell in love with the county.

He says: “I was expecting to be in Shropshire for a couple of years as a stepping stone before moving on.

“I am from Yorkshire and had been job hopping around local radio stations and expected to keep that going.

“But I stayed and have fallen in love with the county. It is beautiful, there’s nowhere else I would prefer to be.”

Go to the website here to make a nomination: https://www.starthankyou.shropshirestar.co.uk/

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News, News Titles
Do you know a special person in Shropshire who goes beyond the call of duty to help others? The Shropshire Star thinks they deserve a special thank you. A Great Big Thank You.


Today we launch our search for the special people who make Shropshire and Mid Wales such a wonderful place to live. And we’re looking for your help.


We are on the hunt for people who selflessly give up their time for the good of others, so we can give them the recognition they deserve but don’t always get.


We want to honour the unsung heroes of Shropshire and Mid Wales by holding a memorable awards ceremony for them to show them how much they are valued.


The Shropshire Star, working with our sponsor partners, will shine a spotlight on the people and organisations that bind our community together.


We want to hear all about the volunteers, the good neighbours, the helping hands and those who step up when they are needed – the people who make a positive difference to where you live and work.


It could be a member of your family, a work colleague, a community volunteer, someone who helps a local team or club, or just someone who makes a special difference to local life.


As a newspaper which prides itself on being at the centre of life in this wonderful county we believe it is important to honour those who do the area proud through leading by example.


In more than half a century chronicling events in the county, we have covered countless stories of people who have done remarkable things.


This is the second year that we have run the Great Big Thank You Awards.


Last year eight awards were presented, ranging from 12-year-old McKenzie Smith who refused to let cerebral palsy prevent him from indulging in his love of sport to pub landlords Edd and Sue Lowe, who have raised £125,000 for forces charities.


This year’s scheme promises to be bigger and brighter, with 11 awards categories recognising people who do good from across the spectrum. We are looking for volunteers who selflessly give up their time for the good of the community, and a young star who has achieved great things.


There is an award for heroes who have shown outstanding bravery, and one for those who work to improve the environment.


We are also looking to honour carers who show special devotion to those they look after, and community champions who have made a special effort to improve the area in which they live.


Farming plays a hugely important part of life here in Shropshire and Mid Wales, and this year we are looking for people who have made a special contribution in this area. We also recognise the important role that grandparents, teachers and good neighbours can play, and we would like to hear about those who have done something special.


Whatever they do, we want to hear about them from you.


Tell us why this person or group is so special and nominate them for one of the Shropshire Star’s prestigious Great Big Thank You Awards – which will bring them the recognition they deserve. We are asking readers to nominate individuals for each category before our deadline of May 18.


A panel of judges will then choose the finalists, with the winners being chosen by our readers in a public vote.


The winners will then be invited, along with a guest, to an awards afternoon at Hadley Park House Hotel on October 10.


They will be joined by the campaign sponsors to enjoy afternoon tea before they are presented with their prizes and trophies, which have been designed by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry.


Help us to give them the thanks they deserve. Go to the website here to make a nomination: https://www.starthankyou.shropshirestar.co.uk/

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News
Martin Wright, MNA Editor-in-Chief, writes: In the six years that I have been an editor of the Shropshire Star, one thing has been clearly apparent.

We are all very lucky to live and work in such a wonderful area.

Lucky because of the beautiful countryside, the fantastic market towns, but most of all because of all the wonderful people who make it such a friendly and welcoming place to be.

But there are some people who go further than that. Much further.

And we think they deserve a bit of extra recognition. Which is why I am delighted, for the second year running, to announce the Shropshire Star’s Great Big Thank You Awards.

Last year I had the pleasure of attending the wonderful awards ceremony at Hadley Park Hotel. It was a special occasion, with a superb afternoon tea in a delightful setting.

But what really made it so memorable was meeting the wonderful people who had been presented with the awards, and hearing the remarkable stories that had led to them being chosen.

It was all the sweeter for the fact that while a panel of judges was used to choose the finalists, the eventual winners were chosen by you – our loyal band of Shropshire Star readers. The Great Big Thank You Awards are not just to honour the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales, but they are also chosen by the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Working in the news industry shows you just how quickly time passes, and now it is time to look for some more unsung heroes. And once more we are looking for your help.

Do you know somebody who deserves a bit of recognition for the work they do in the community?

If so please let us know. Go to the website here to make a nomination: https://www.starthankyou.shropshirestar.co.uk/

By definition, the type of people who selflessly serve their community are not the type to seek credit for their work, but we think they deserve to be honoured.

This year we are seeking nominations for 11 different awards, and we are sure you will know somebody who fits the bill.

Don’t worry if you are not sure which category to nominate them for – just get the nomination in, and we’ll do the rest.

It doesn’t matter if you nominated them last year, as long as they have continued their good works for the past year. For more details see the instructions opposite.

But even if you don’t know anybody who fits the bill, you still have a role to play.

Once the shortlist of finalists have been selected, we will be asking Shropshire Star readers to vote for the winners.

Let’s make this year’s awards even bigger and better than last year’s.

For the people who give so much this wonderful region, it is the least we can do.

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