2019
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BEST STREET
Osborne Road: Unveiled blue plaque to commemorate Sir Alec Rose, who sailed Lively Lady around the world. TEXT: 0001
Allaway Avenue: Hosted the ever-popular Paulsgrove Carnival, which saw hundreds of people take part. TEXT 0002
Francis Avenue: This was the first street in Portsmouth to close and become a ‘play street’ for the day. TEXT 0003
Queen Street: Dreary weather and blustery conditions failed to ruin the atmosphere at the annual Portsea Carnival. TEXT 0004
Fratton Road: Thousands of people enjoyed Fratton Festival as the road was closed off for live music and entertainment all day long. TEXT 0005
BEST BUSINESS
Paleo Ridge: The company changed dog food packaging to go plastic-free, saving thousands of kilos of packaging that would have otherwise gone to waste. TEXT 0006
Mum and Dad’s Kitchen: Southsea restaurant officially has the best pie in Hampshire, after scooping first prize in the Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition 2019. TEXT 0007
Southern Arts Academy: This dance school gives kids a platform to learn dance, with several youngsters going to the IDF World Championships earlier this year. TEXT 0008
Beautify Me: Domestic violence survivor Louise Smith moved to Portsmouth and set up her own beauty salon in Havant. TEXT 0009
Southsea Cycles: Cyclist with MS, Trevor Mose, had his electric bike stolen, but in an act of kindness shop gave him a new one, free-of-charge. TEXT 0010
BEST VOLUNTEER
Melvin Louch: Saved from the brink of death by staff at QA Hospital, Melvin now goes round hospital giving flowers to patients to lift their spirits. TEXT 0011
Southsea Tennis Club: Organised 24-hour tennis marathon fundraiser for QA Bubbles Fund. TEXT 0012
Danni Lee: This Gosport mum gave out bottles of water to outdoor workers during the hot summer months. TEXT 0013
Gosport Heritage Open Days: Volunteers put together a series of events across the town to celebrate Gosport’s rich heritage. TEXT 0014
Vanessa Taylor: Vanessa rescued 45 rabbits, which multiplied through pregnancy, before housing them in her back garden until they found new homes. TEXT 0015
BEST SCHOOL
St Jude’s Church Nursery: Staff took training to become the city’s first nursery approved by National Portage Association. TEXT 0016
Mayville High School: Pupils Jed Hawker, William Trise, Jacob Driver and Dylan Cook built an eco-friendly car to race at Goodwood. TEXT 0017
Sarisbury Junior School: The school created a fairy garden for Summer Page, a pupil who died of brain tumour in 2018. TEXT 0018
Gomer Junior School: Learned Second World War songs for Heritage Open Days performance, getting a greater understanding of the sacrifices made during the conflict. TEXT 0019
Woodlands Early Roots: Started an eco-project, banning plastic glitter and teaching kids how to make it from scratch instead. TEXT 0020
SPIRIT OF YOUTH
Daisy Vassie: Daisy donated 12in of her hair to the Little Princess Trust. TEXT 0021
Harry St Ledger: Portchester child battling brain tumour had his dreams come true when he led Pompey out of the tunnel at Wembley Checkatrade Trophy final. TEXT 0022
Poppy Taylor: Poppy raised £100 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK with an after-schools stall after seeing a family friend in pain because of the disease. TEXT 0023
Aidan Lamer: Aidan almost lost his leg in a motorbike crash – but fought back to not only recover, but get two Bs and a C in his A-levels. TEXT 0024
Hayden Goodright: Hayden saw his baby sister Ava choking, but stayed calm and called an ambulance on his phone to save Ava’s life. TEXT 0025
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Richard Pavey: 67-year-old has donated his 100th pint of blood to the NHS, having started donating in the 1970s. TEXT 0026
Maureen Adams: Maureen worked with Nightingales Golden Care for 10 years – reaching 79 years of age in the process. TEXT 0027
Abigail Webber: Youngster with Crohn’s disease has battled on to raise money for good causes across Gosport, and launched a support group for others just like her. TEXT 0028
Acts of Kindness Solent: Community group helped raise £750 for RAF veteran Brian Colley after he was ambushed by thieves in Fareham. TEXT 0029
Judy Cook: Judy has celebrated being a lollipop lady for 25 years this year. TEXT 0030
BEST GARDEN
Cornwallis Crescent: Genesis Order of Druids blessed new orchard in Cornwallis Crescent in ceremonial ritual. TEXT 0031
Brockhurst Junior School: Pupils created a centenary poppy path in the school garden in honour of Gosport’s WWI soldiers. TEXT 0032
St Peter’s Church: Congregation set up a display of 18,000 poppies to commemorate 100 years since end of First World War. TEXT 0033
Sue Lowe: Waterlooville mum Sue built her very own ‘super shed’ for her and her daughter to enjoy, including a workshop, dining room and play area. TEXT 0034
Colin and Gillian Gittins: Colin and Gillian won The News’ Bloomin’ Marvellous competition for 2019, with a garden that has ‘mystery around every corner’. TEXT 0035
CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Wicor Primary School: School has been growing its own veg, making its own soap and more on the journey towards being entirely plastic-free. TEXT 0036
Philip Osgood: Philip raised issue with Gosport Council about swifts being blocked from their nest, saving the birds from losing their home. TEXT 0037
Final Straw Solent: Joined forces with Havant Council and held regular beach cleans in Eastney, as hundreds of organisations committed to their pledge of tackling plastic waste. TEXT 0038
Southsea Beachwatch: This community group has been holding monthly beach cleans in Southsea, collecting thousands of kilograms of waste in the process. TEXT 0039
Nina Goodall: Opened All Good Things of Wickham, only selling zero waste, reusable and plastic-free goods. TEXT 0040
BEST ART / COMMUNITY PROJECT
Havant Academy: Introduced new scheme to recycle old promwear, saving parents hundreds of pounds each year. TEXT 0041
Drayton United Church: Organised a community breakfast event inside the church for Wessex Cancer Trust. TEXT 0042
Baffins Band Day: Event raising money for Baffins Milton Rovers FC also highlighted upcoming music talent from the Portsmouth region. TEXT 0043
Gosportarians: Community group has organised events and charity fundraisers in Gosport all year long, from dog shows to car shows and even testing men for prostate cancer. TEXT 0044
Rowans Lake of Lights: Rowans Hospice and its many supporters lit up Canoe Lake in Southsea with candles, sent out by visitors in memory of a loved one. TEXT 0045
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Rich Harris: After undergoing major heart surgery, Rich ploughed through his recovery to run the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon for charity. TEXT 0046
Will Cahill and James Grinter: Ran from John O Groats to Lands End, raising £8,200 for a friend paralysed and Ickle Pickles charity. TEXT 0047
Rosalinda Hardiman: Paraplegic Rosalinda became one of the oldest to swim the length of Loch Ness earlier this year. TEXT 0048
Jake Davies: This youngster, who battlesanumber of allergies every day, held an awareness event for classmates at his school. TEXT 0049
Sarah-Louise Page: When Brian Marshall’s home caught fire, Sarah-Louise rushed into the house to save him, being praised by firefighters for her quick thinking. TEXT 0050