IF THE strength of a community can be judged by the resilience and achievements of its members, the people of Sussex are indeed an impressive bunch.

A brave grieving mother, tireless community outreach workers and a top-flight football team were among those honoured as winners at yesterday’s Argus Community Stars Awards, sponsored by the British Airways i360.

As veteran ITV presenter Fred Dinenage took to the stage to present the awards, the stalls of Brighton Dome were packed as hundreds gathered for the annual gala event.

Heartstrings were tugged as the audience heard the story of young Brighton mother Viki Lintern, who was named Parent Of The Year for her fortitude for the sake of her young sons following her husband’s death.

There were cheers and laughter from the team at the Brighton Bike Share scheme, which won Green Project of the year.

Boss Paul Topham said: “I’m absolutely shocked – we were sure the Rampion would get it.”

And despite other strong nominees in the category there was only ever going to be one winner of Contribution To Sussex Sport for the year 2017 – Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

Chairman Tony Bloom told The Argus: “We’re delighted we’ve won.

“I think it’s really important to have recognition for the club in the city, in the county and indeed for everyone involved in making the promotion possible.

“Everyone – Chris [Hughton] of course but everyone at the club – is working as hard as they can now to make sure we stay here. The last 14 matches are all cup finals, but I’ve every confidence we’ll get there.”

At the end of the afternoon, which also saw a dance performance, interval music from the Baby Faced Blues Buskers and a raffle, the four joint winners of the Courageous Child Of The Year joined Fred on stage to celebrate their heroism in the face of adversity.

Brenda Sharman, grandmother of severely disabled Oliver who is undergoing repeated surgeries to allow him to play football like other eight-year-olds, said: “He’s amazing. Everything he goes through and he’s still got such a wonderful smile every day.”

  • Don’t miss Wednesday’s Argus for eight pages of coverage of the Community Stars Awards.

There was barely a dry eye in the house

LOVE triumphed over loss as Community Stars Awards winners received warm applause after sharing their stories of personal grief and pain.

In quick succession after the upbeat opening dance performance, awards for Parent, Local Hero and Charity Of the Year left barely a dry eye in the house.

Viki Lintern, who has just moved to Brighton, walked away with the first award, well deserved for the fortitude she has shown since the shock death of her partner last year.

She said: “It’s never easy when anyone passes but when you’ve got two little boys, it was very difficult.”

She said her award will be something to show Charlie, four, and Vinnie, five, when they are a little older.

Lindsey Kesteven, from Hove, was named Local Hero Of The Year after she threw herself between a moving car and her baby’s buggy on a pedestrian walkway in Tesco car park in Hove.

She has had to have several operations and is still in therapy.

She said: “I don’t feel safe anywhere, but this means so much.”

And Darran Saunders, of Woodingdean, was joint winner of the Charity Of The Year for her work with the Connor Saunders Foundation which fundraises on behalf of her late son, who died after being attacked.

She received warm applause from the Brighton Dome audience after saying her son had always been “the gentle one, the kindest one”.

She said it felt “amazing” to receive this recognition of the work of her charity, adding: “We’re not in it for the awards of course but it’s still nice.

“The work we do; it just helps us to stand.”

She and fellow winners were standing a little taller by the end of the ceremony.

The honours in full

PARENT OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Jeremy Ornellas, Blanch House
Winner: Viki Lintern

LOCAL HERO OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Mark Buckle, North Star Sussex
Winner: Lindsey and Craig Kesteven

GRANDPARENT OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Richard Hopton, The Brighton Hilton
Joint Winners:  Darryl and Carol Herriott, Marion Cook

CARER OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Sue Brand, Pembroke Care Group
Winner: Sabrina Mason

COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR 
Awarded by Victoria Garcia, Brighton and Hove Buses
Winner: The Big Bears Bash

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY
Awarded by Legal and General
Winner: Brighton and Hove Bus Company

YOUNG SPORT STAR OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Simon Jefferies, Jefferies Funeral Directors
Winner: Ryan Brown

CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Mark Spofforth, Kreston Reeves
Joint Winners: Charlotte’s Bag and Connor Saunders Foundation

YOUTH GROUP OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Andrew Comben, Brighton Dome
Winner: Brighton Youth Centre (BYC)

GREEN PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Colin Anderson, Thwaites Garage
Winner: Brighton Bike Scheme

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SUSSEX 
Awarded by Beverly Sawyers, vice president, American Express
Winner: Ryan Heal from the Rockinghorse Appeal

COMMUNITY STAR OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Steve Bax, i360 British Airways
Winner: Elena Coleman

CONTRIBUTION TO SUSSEX SPORT 
Awarded by Laurence Elphick, Juice FM
Winner: Brighton and Hove Albion

PUBLIC SERVICES OF THE YEAR
Winner: University of Sussex Street Wise Scheme

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 
Awarded by Niamh Arnett, UK Power Networks
Winner: Fun In Action!

BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
Awarded by Jeremy Tilley, Tilley Stonemasons
Winner: Marcin Precz

CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS AND CULTURE 
Awarded by AVT Connect
Winner: Brighton Dome

YOUNG COMMUNITY STAR OF THE YEAR
Awarded by Jeff Taylor, Hove College
Joint Winners:  Brooke Lewies and Lennon Silcock 

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Awarded by BIMM
Winner: Natalia Borg

COURAGEOUS CHILD OF THE YEAR 
Awarded by Tony Portelli, The Argus Appeal
Winner: Luca Marcus, Loui Legend Heath Herriott, Max Cooper and Oliver Sharman.