[13 April 2007]

Argus Achievement Awards.

The Argus Achievement Awards took place yesterday evening at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton. Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker were both nominated by a number of reporters from The Argus for the Local Hero´s category. There were 12 categories of awards in total and readers of the Argus had an opportunity, over a period of weeks, to vote between the range of nominees.

The event was attended by both Brian and Geoff´s families along with Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive, Des Prichard and Family Liaison Officers, Dave Sheppard and Jenny Allen.

There were 2 other nominees for the Local Hero category, one being Father Alan Sharpe who had made a huge difference to the lives of local homeless people, in helping them find work and getting them back on their feet. The other was a man called Simon Lewis who rescued a woman involved in a car accident. The woman had not been breathing and was face down in the mud, close to drowning, until Simon took the weight of the car off her until emergency services arrived.

Obviously, these were both extremely worthy candidates, however, Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker received, by far, the greatest amount of votes from the general public and the Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive, Des Prichard was invited to present the award to both Brian and Geoff´s families. In doing so he payed tribute to the other 2 nominees and outlined that it was a great honour and privilege to present the award to Brian and Geoff´s families.

[Allison Gilson]