SAINTS captain James Roby was crowned the Pride of St Helens on an uplifting and emotional awards night on Friday.
Roby took the top honour in the 2018 Solarcrown Commercial Pride of St Helens Awards as judges recognised his magnificent service to his hometown rugby league club.
Typically, he reacted humbly to the honour, heaping praise on many of the inspiring people who also collected awards during the ceremony.
The event, at Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium, was organised by the Steve Prescott Foundation and the St Helens Star, for the seventh year in a row.
It aims to raise aspiration across St Helens by highlighting inspiring stories of achievement, resilience, courage and talent.
Others to be recognised included the family of Danny Fox, the 29-year-old who was stabbed to death in St Helens in the autumn of 2016.
Danny’s family have since campaigned to end knife crime. Their award was greeted with a standing ovation.
One of the missions of Pride of St Helens, is to recognise people born in the borough who go on to achieve success nationally or internationally.
Conor Coady, the captain of Premier League football team Wolverhampton Wanderers, was identified as a perfect example of this by the judges.
As he was named Sportsperson of the Year, Coady, who grew up in Haydock, paid tribute to the Rainford Rangers junior team where he started his playing days.
Speaking on behalf of the Pride of St Helens organising committee, Andrew Kilmurray, editor of the St Helens Star, said: “It was another incredible evening as we recognised the great and good within our borough.
“The stories we heard on the night underline the calibre of people we have that are from St Helens and the importance of sharing those stories as we set out to raise aspiration and belief in our communities and, in particular, St Helens' children and young people.
“Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to a wonderful occasion.”
Pride of St Helens 2018
Carmel College Leadership
Winner: Neil McFarlane
Highly commended: Mark Dickinson, Ellen Murray
St Helens RFC Sportsperson of the Year
Winner: Conor Coady
Highly commended: Justin Holbrook, Matt Crehan
Handepay Unsung Hero Award
Winner: Ted Forsyth,
Highly commended: Claire Rigby, Teresa Farrimond
CoseyRentals Courage Award
Winner: Chris Carberry
Highly commended: Stephen Higham, Barbara Challinor
Accord Wills The Child of Courage
Winner: Eve Leach
Highly commended: Katie Edington, Kaycee Bradshaw
OD’s Designer Clothing Young Community Star Award
Winner: Lewis Taylor
Highly commended: Ben Hodge, Jennifer Draper
Assured Life Charity Champion
Winner: Claire Lewis and Team 1C
Highly commended: Mark Smith, Karen Jarvis
Imperial Bar & Terrace Arts Award
Winner: Clonefest
Highly commended: Carley Stenson, Lost Castles
St Helens Council Young Sportsperson of the Year
Winner: Shea Williams
Highly commended: Ivan Leyland, Lauren Bate
Torus Family of the Year Award
Winner: The family of Daniel Fox
Highly commended: The family of Hope Colley, the family of Violet-Grace Youens
Solarcrown Pride of St Helens Award
Winner: James Roby
Highly commended: Carley Stenson, Chrysalis Centre
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