The selfless work and contributions that individuals, schools and voluntary organisations have made to the Fife community were recognised at the eighth annual Kingdom FM Local Hero Awards last night.
Around 300 guests attended the ceremony at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes celebrating the inspirational work of some of Fife’s unsung heroes.
The event also acknowledged the “tremendous support” given by this year’s seven main sponsors The Courier, FMC Technologies, Owen Buchanan Builders Ltd, Forth Ports, DPS Group, Fife Cultural Trust and the Purvis Group.
Some 3,000 entries were whittled down to winners in 17 categories, and there was an unexpected treat when The Voice winner Stevie McCrorie performed an acoustic set.
The winner of the carer award was Joyce Temple who was nominated by her granddaughter.
The sports person of the year award went to Chloe Dickson, who recently competed in the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Largs.
The winner of the best community group or initiative award was The Rabbit Braes, a green space in the Templehall area of Kirkcaldy.
The new business start up award went to The Little Herb Farm, which was started in April 2014 by Lindsey Anderson and Michelle Wilkinson.
The student apprentice of the year award went to Chantelle Leswell, who recently gained a place at an American university.
The child of achievement award winner was 14-year-old Joe Lafferty, who chased a thief and recovered the bag he had snatched belonging to an RVS volunteer.
Next up was the volunteering category, won by Amanda Scott, founder of No Knives in Fife.
The green initiative award winner was David Henderson who loves to recycle, while the best neighbourhood award was won by Willy Kerr.
The best school award was won by Southwood Primary, Glenrothes.
The best visitor attraction award, voted for by Kingdom FM listeners, went to Elie Holiday Park.
The employee of the year award winner was Brian Rioch who has worked for Fife Council as a street cleaner in Auchtermuchty for more than 20 years.
The fundraiser of the year award was won by Team Leo.
Vicky and Robin Baird’s son Leo was stillborn in June 2012 and the couple have worked tirelessly since to raise money for SANDS.
The Provost Award for Services went to the Happy Sunshine Club, while the Mary Leishman Foundation Award for services to the arts and music was won by Gama Youth.
The ceremony then turned to the Kingdom Kids Award for exceptional services to charity, which went to Phil Corletto, who has raised more than £70,000 for charity in recent years.
The final award of the evening the Kingdom FM special award went to motor neurone disease campaigner Gordon Aikman.
Gordon was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to being on holiday.
However, he recorded a video message which was played on the big screen and received rapturous applause.
The Edinburgh University business graduate, who was a former head boy at Kirkcaldy High School, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in June 2014 aged just 29.
Immediately after diagnosis, he launched Gordon’s Fightback to raise money for MND Scotland.
To date, he has raised more than £300,000 and the 30-year-old is also working with the Scottish and UK governments to secure funding for dedicated MND nurses.
He said: “There is no cure. Soon it will kill me.
“I don’t want pity. All I want is for you to take action to help find a cure and fight for better care for people with MND.”Full list of Kingdom FM Local Hero AwardsCarer Award, sponsored by Abbotsford Care Ltd. Winner: Joyce Temple. Runners-up: Barry Wilson and Michelle Anderson.
Sports Person of the Year, sponsored by Police Scotland, Fife Division. Winner: Chloe Dickson. Runners-up: James Gales MBE and Connor Johnston.
Best Community Group or Initiative, sponsored by Diageo, Leven. Winner: The Rabbit Braes. Runners-up: Strollers Disabled Team and Methilhill Community Children’s Initiative.
New Business Start Up, sponsored by Business Gateway Fife. Winner: The Little Herb Farm. Runners-up: Arro Lighting and Love Restored.
Student/Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Opportunities Fife. Winner: Chantelle Leswell. Runners-up: Kelly Duffus and Dhani McDiarmid.
Child of Achievement, sponsored by The Tipsy Nipper Restaurant at Fife Airport. Winner: Joe Lafferty.
Runners-up: Aidan McCallum and Geordie Harrow.
Volunteering Award, sponsored by Cadham Pharmacy. Winner: Amanda Scott. Runners-up: Audrey Kennedy, and Sandra, Ken and Spike the hearing dog.
Green Initiative Award, sponsored by Enviro Kleen (Scotland) Ltd. Winner: David Henderson. Runners-up: Peachy Keen and Clear Buckhaven.
Best Neighbour, sponsored by Delmor Independent Estate Agents. Winner: Willy Kerr. Runners-up: Jane Graham and Margaret Stewart.
Best School, sponsored by MKM Building Supplies Kirkcaldy Ltd. Winner: Southwood Primary. Runners-up: Springfield Primary and Rosslyn School.
Best Visitor Attraction in Fife, sponsored by Pentland Land Rover, Cupar. Winner: Elie Holiday Park. Runners-up: Muddy Boots, Craigtoun Country Park and Inchcolm Abbey.
Employee of the Year, sponsored by Maxwell Bruce. Winner: Brian Rioch. Runners-up: Margaret Watt and Adrian Ferns.
Fundraiser of Year, sponsored by Ceramic Tile Warehouse. Winner: Team Leo. Runners-up: Paul Webb and Louise Forbes Blackwood.
Provost Award for Services to the Community, sponsored by Fife Council. Winner: The Happy Sunshine Club. Runners-up: Alma Greger and Irene Donaldson.
Mary Leishman Foundation Award for Services to the Arts and Music. Winner: Gama Youth. Runners-up: Miko Berry and Mark Bennett.
Kingdom Kids Award for exceptional services to charity: Phil Corletto.
Kingdom FM Award: motor neurone disease campaigner Gordon Aikman.