2022 AWARDS

If the 2020 Awards was the last outing before lockdown, the 2022 event heralded the return to normality with a packed crowd eager to catch up and have fun.

The appropriate theme of the day was “Friends Reunited” and the show opened with a moving montage of pictures celebrating friendships and remembering those absent from the day.

Magician and comedian Pete Firman was in sparkling form again as he entertained the capacity audience before host Jon Chapman took over with the awards and his now famous quiz. This was won by John Storey of Porthaven who generously donated his £500 prize to The Ambulance Staff Charity, who were the beneficiaries of the event.

Their trustee and former paramedic Carl Ledbury spoke about the physical and mental challenges faced by ambulance staff during the pandemic and then presented the winners with their trophies.

Viv Shepherd of Healthcare Business magazine was remembered for her outstanding contribution to the care sector, as was Caring Times’ Richard Hawkins who’s retirement was marked with a suitably characteristic painting.

As well as The Ambulance Staff Charity, other good causes across the UK, including The Care Workers’ Charity and Alzheimer’s Society, benefited with more than £25,000 donated.

Nobody was in a hurry to go home and a team of talented street artists created some (highly complementary) portraits of the guests as they enjoyed the chance to network once more.