IT WAS a night of high drama, of tears and celebration, as the great and the good of North Staffordshire and South Cheshire came together to honour Our Heroes.

The fourth annual awards at the Moat House Hotel, Etruria, saw the area's stars from the worlds of sport and entertainment join with civic dignitaries to pay tribute to ordinary men, women and children whose everyday actions prove an inspiration to us all.

Among the VIPs were Potteries TV personalities Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner-Webster, comedian and TV presenter Nick Hancock, World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks and Colonel Tim Sandiford, the last commanding officer of the Staffordshire Regiment.

Twenty-nine awards were handed out, along with more than £16,000 in prize money.

Recognised for their outstanding achievements were: Children of Courage; Good Neighbours; Community Groups; Bright Young Things; Charity Champions; Heroes of the NHS; School Stars and those going Beyond the Call of Duty.

The first award, presented by Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon, was Child of Courage.

In third place was eight-year-old Kavanagh Hood, from Clayton, who has faced serious health problems all his life, but still makes it his mission to make other people happy.

Runner-up was 12-year-old Ryan Lomas, from Leek, who cannot be left unattended and has to wear a helmet in case he hurts himself during an epileptic fit.

The winners were 14-year-old sisters Sophi and Sammi Webb, from Bentilee. Sophi has undergone brain surgery twice since she was diagnosed with a life-threatening tumour and, as a result, suffers impaired vision.

Despite her own learning difficulties, Sammi helps her sister in every way she can, from lending a hand when Sophi needs to take medication to being there when she needs to talk.

The next award was for Bright Young Thing and was presented by Norton-born TV presenter Anthea Turner.

In third place was 16-year-old Sam Hale, from Cheadle, who showed an outstanding commitment to volunteer work during her GCSE year at the town's Painsley Catholic College.

Runner-up was 15-year-old Daniel Townley.

The Burslem teenager suffers from a painful skin condition that causes blisters, but has battled his health problems to achieve an outstanding academic record while helping other students at Brownhills College, Tunstall.

The judges felt the winner in this category had shown maturity beyond his years as a carer for his mum and siblings.

Paul Martin, a 16-year-old from Meir, helps his single mum Jayne to care for her adopted children Jack and Stacey, who have learning difficulties.

The next award, Beyond The Call Of Duty, was presented by Colonel Sandiford, former commanding officer of the Staffordshire Regiment (now 3 Mercian).

In third place was 36-year-old firefighter Majid Ullah, who visited Pakistan to help train firefighters in how to deal with road accidents.

Runner-up was Dave Davies. The 49-year-old was a retained firefighter at Biddulph for 28 years while working at Silverdale Colliery before becoming a full-time firefighter in 2007.

And the winner was Colour Sergeant Gary Golbey, who is originally from Kidsgrove.

Despite undergoing gruelling treatment for a brain tumour, Gary battled back to health to complete the maximum 22 years' service in the Army.

The Community Group Of The Year was presented by TV personality Wendy Turner-Webster.

In third place was the Moorlands Activities Group.

The judges felt the group had made a genuine difference to the lives of young people in Cheadle by giving them a real focus.

Runners-up were Bentilee Volunteers, a group serving the community for more than two decades with services including a charity shop, second-hand furniture shop and a neighbour-link service for pensioners.

The winner was campaign group Cure the NHS, whose members fought a David versus Goliath battle in memory of their loved ones to improve conditions for patients at Stafford Hospital.

The Good Neighbour award was presented by the Bishop of Lichfield, The Right Reverend Jonathan Gledhill.

In third place was 15-year-old Amy Taylor, from Madeley Heath, who has formed a unique bond of friendship with her elderly neighbour Gerald Gilford.

Runner-up was 71-year-old Iris Hughes, whose selfless devotion to others is legendary in Porthill and who sees her voluntary work in caring for her elderly neighbours as a "calling."

The winner was John Knight, the vice-chairman of Union Street and Forest Park Residents' Association in Hanley.

The 69-year-old has arranged for door alarms to be installed for more than 700 residents and set up a scheme for people living in three high-rise tower blocks worried about bogus callers.

The prizes for the category School Star were presented by Potteries TV presenter and comedian Nick Hancock, who raced to the ceremony after watching Stoke City's Carling Cup victory over Blackpool.

In third place was Tara Thorn, the head of music and performing arts at Painsley Catholic College in Cheadle. She arranges for the students to play at community events and has helped with the big school musicals.

Runner-up was Dee De Wet, an inspirational choreographer who has used dance to teach youngsters at Ash Green Primary School, in Trentham, about everything from how heart attacks happen to how people lived during Tudor times.

But the winner was 35-year-old Rachael Dyer, a family support co-ordinator at Leighton Primary, Crewe.

Rachael was so determined to get boys hooked on books that she tried everything from "extreme reading" challenges to drafting in footballers.

The award for Hero Of The NHS was presented by Gordon Banks, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team and a Stoke City legend.

In third place was 43-year-old community matron Tracy Hall, from Packmoor.

Tracy is on the front line of the fight against respiratory diseases which have plagued North Staffordshire for generations.

She acts as a lifeline for scores of patients who have developed the illnesses mainly through smoking or working in pits.

Runner-up was nurse Jill Kelsall, who treats the sick in the Potteries and in the combat zones of Afghanistan.

Jill, aged 45, from Werrington, has worked in the intensive care unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire since 1998 and, five years ago, she joined the Cobridge-based 202 field hospital of the Territorial Army.

The winner was a team of health professionals who pride themselves on trying to see life from the patient's perspective and provide a first class service for around 8,000 people.

Two Towns medical practice in Hanford keeps so many slots free to see its seven doctors that people can normally be fixed up within the hour.

The Adult Carer Of The Year award was presented by Margaret Sinstadt, from North Staffs Carers.

In third place was 63-year-old Christine Rowley, from Kingsley Holt. Since her 67-year-old husband Terry was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago, Christine has been his full-time carer.

Runner-up was 29-year-old mum-of-two Dawn Rollason.

Dawn, from Bucknall, who cares for two children with serious medical needs as well as finding time to raise money for the charity Caudwell Children.

The winner was full-time carer Jenny Meakin.

The 57-year-old, from Betchton, near Sandbach, is the sole carer for three adopted youngsters with Down's Syndrome and her 34-year-old son, who suffered a brain injury eight years ago.

Jenny had spent two years caring for her husband, Alan, until his death from heart disease in May.

The award for Charity Champion Or Volunteer Of The Year was presented by the new Chief Constable of Staffordshire, Michael Cunningham. In third place was Toni Cowans, a 21-year-old who has shown passion, tenacity and persistence to raise awareness of HIV and Aids.

Toni, from Brown Lees, spearheaded a 12-month HIV/Aids campaign to change perceptions of the disease.

Runner-up was inspirational football manager Daz Turner, who showed remarkable fortitude to spur his team to success during the last weeks of his life. Despite crippling pain, Daz, a 37-year-old from Tean, discharged himself from hospital to coach his team – Tean Albion – from the sidelines. His award was collected by his widow Amanda.

The winner was a man the judges felt displayed great courage in admitting his mental health problems and his selflessness in channelling his energy to help other sufferers made him a worthy winner.

The problems Bernard Welsh encountered forced him to take early retirement from his job as a teacher in 1999. Part of his recovery was brought about by the occupational therapy he underwent at the former St Edward's Hospital in Cheddleton.

Now the 61-year-old, from Meir Park, helps others benefit from occupational therapy.

The Britannia Award went to Robbie Williams's charity Give It Sum.

In June 2000, with the help of Comic Relief, Robbie set up Give It Sum to give something back to the community of North Staffordshire.

The fund has since helped more than 420 projects in the area, distributing more than £4.5 million.

Chief executive of The Co-operative Financial Services, Neville Richardson, said: "What always surprises me is what people are capable of.

"Every story you hear makes you realise what wonderful people there are. It makes you feel very humble."

The Editor's Special Award, presented by Editor-In-Chief of Staffordshire Sentinel News and Media Mike Sassi, went to Potteries entertainer Jonathan Wilkes.

The 31-year-old, who was born in Baddeley Green, has broken box office records for the last four years at The Regent Theatre in Hanley with his pantomime performances and is gearing up to head the cast again at the venue this Christmas.

He is the driving force behind the pioneering Stoke's Top Talent contest and, together with his wife Nikki, recently launched his own academy here in the city to develop our future stars of stage and screen.

At the same time, he is a champion for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice.

Rather than a cheque, Port Vale fan Jonny received a signed copy of a painting by Potteries artist Sid Kirkham entitled: "Boslem. It's raining. Vale must be at wom."

Mr Sassi said: "It has been the most incredible Our Heroes I have ever experienced.

"The number of inspirational stories we have heard has been amazing.

"This is yet another example of how unique Stoke-on-Trent really is."