PRIDE OF ST HELENS: Nominees for the Pride of St Helens Award

In this week's paper (out now in shops for just 50p) we published a 16-page supplement profiling each of the shortlisted nominees for this year's ceremony.

Throughout this week and next ahead of the event at the Totally Wicked Stadium, we will be sharing our categories of nominees with you.

Here is the first. Here are your nominees for the Pride of St Helens Award sponsored by The Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group

St Helens Food Bank

WHEN people are in crisis, it can be difficult to know which way to turn.

That is where amazing groups, such as the team at St Helens Foodbank based at The Hope Centre, act as a lifeline.

The Foodbank has been in place since November 2012 and helps people in crisis from St Helens, not just with their food but also by signposting them to other services.

Team leader at the Food Bank, Janice MacLeod, said: “The Foodbank would not be what it is without the fantastic volunteers we have who keep everything going. “We are people’s last resort when they are in crisis, it’s a big job, but the kindness of people who donate food makes that happen.

“We are beyond excited and honoured to be nominated for this award.”

Elizabeth Hill Dance School

ELIZABETH Hill is a name known throughout St Helens.

She has nurtured the artistic talents of singers, dancers and performers for more than 40 years after herself being a dancer in her youth.

As an accomplished dancer in all styles, it was clear from the start that her real love was for ballet.

And, at the age of just 18, she started to teach a couple of talented young students.

At this point she realised that teaching others to dance would be the way to share her expertise, knowledge and passion.

Elizabeth continued to study dance and the associated teaching exams whilst also training to be a school teacher.

However, her career in school teaching was cut short when her dance school really took off and became a force to be reckoned with.

Elizabeth also battled breast cancer some years ago and during this battle, the former pupils turned teachers took over in her place, following her example.

St Helens has a strong relationship with the arts, and it should not be underestimated the level to which Elizabeth Hill and her school have added to that artistic success.

Eamonn McManus

EAMONN McManus has spent two decades at Saints – and he will go down as a pivotal figure in the rugby league club’s history.

St Helens-born Eamonn, a former investment banker in Hong Kong, joined the club, which he has loved since his school days, as a director 20 years ago.

And after being appointed chairman in the years that followed, he played a pivotal role in stabilising the club’s finances and securing its future.

He was the driving force behind the creation of the club’s £30m stadium in 2012, overseeing the move from the ageing Knowsley Road to one of rugby league’s finest stadiums.

His presence at the club, along with the support of fellow investor Mike Coleman, has helped maintain Saints’ place as one of the sport’s biggest teams.

Eamonn’s fierce passion for the sport and the club remain undimmed, which was evident in his jubilant reaction to Saints winning the Grand Final this year.

Away from the sport, he plays a key role in the business community, as chair of the Invest in St Helens board, which aims to grow the borough’s economy and encourage aspiration among its young people.