The year was 2005. It was a funny year because as the summer approached I was just rounding off a project called the Somerset Variety Performance and had plans on running a similar project but on a bigger scale. My original plan was to go as far as including a few more counties and renaming it the SWVP (South West Variety Performance). Being me I decided to make some major leaps and went with a national variety show. This move made me one of the youngest Managing Directors of a national organisation in the country. The National Variety Performance ended up being a range of projects instead of one main show and part of which was an awards project that we planned to role out across different counties. The original awards project was named the Somerset Charity Awards. We were planning on seeking out those in our communities that had raised money for various local and national charities but we broadened things out more than planned and in the end went with the Somerset County Awards. This way we could award the “pride” of the community not just fundraisers.

The Somerset County Awards

Our first award ceremony was very different to the ones we run today. It was completely new territory to me and the team. At the time of the launch of this project the National Variety was going through some changes. I was saying goodbye to some staff and saying hello to some new faces. The transition from old to new came with its problems but at the same time solved a few too. I had huge visions for the National variety Performance and it was only right to let go of the ones that were holding the organisation back.

Nowadays for most projects we ask the public to nominate people for awards but back in the early days it was me, the team and enough newspapers to open a recycling plant. We visited community centers, workshops, schools and many other public places trying to find our award winners. I contacted people i had worked with on variety shows in the past and called in a few performers for the event. The awards were very traditional. Something you would expect at any award ceremony. To be honest the award ceremony was very traditional too but it didn’t really matter because it was a complete success.

After great feedback from the community we started work on a ceremony for the following year. 2007 was an extremely busy year for the National Variety Performance so the ceremony that year was non-existent. We just couldn’t fit it in. Instead we surprised people with their awards at unexpected times. Some people we visited at home and at work and others half way through their own events. We called it the ‘Winter Edition’. It was a shame that we didn’t have time for a full blown ceremony but i was committed to the NVP and other commitments to uphold. Over the next two years i was back and forth from Weymouth and London working on projects for the NVP and the awards was purely a sideline but we kept it up as best as we could.

The Pride of Central Somerset

Towards the end of 2008 the Somerset County awards had not seen a ceremony in a while so i wanted to think how we could improve what we already had. I wanted to make the project bigger and better. By this time the National Variety Performance was just a fond memory. It had been very successful that it became something bigger than i could have ever imagined but i am kind of restricted by an NDA so I’ll leave it at that. In November 2008 i contacted Mid Somerset News and Media and started to build a partnership with them. It makes sense to work with the people who distribute directly to the people you want at the ceremony. Now that we had a lot more access to press coverage in the local area we opened up nominations to the public and asked people to nominate those special individuals in their lives.

The Pride of Central Somerset was a turning point for me. The project had really evolved from its earlier counterpart. The planning was much more precise and the ceremony was grand and refreshing. I knew that after i finished this project i was heading to Canada for what could be the best part of a few years and i was worried that the project may not continue so some of the 2009 team are already on standby for this years awards project which will really kick in after nominations close in the summer.

This video is a clip that was taken at the ceremony during the interval.

We presented more awards in 2009 than any other year. It was the first year we introduced a category which normally goes against our rules but we felt that sporting achievements were being left in the dark hence the introduction of the sports category.

A few days after the ceremony i packed by bags and headed back to Nova Scotia.

The Haliwards

The Haliwards was never planned. I had no intentions on branching out in Canada until i knew where me and Tara were going to settle on a permanent basis but as time passed by i got rather bored. During the summer of 2009 i had worked with the Blue Nose Marathon and was preparing to work with the Tall Ships. This is when i met Haligonia. Haligonia is a small media group focusing on news and events across HRM. I agreed to do a video interview with them for their website about my previous work and why I was in Nova Scotia. A few weeks before I met with Haligonia I started to do some research on running an event in Halifax and I was thinking about running an event similar to the Pride of Central Somerset. I was slightly worried that I wouldn’t be able to get enough exposure so I discussed my ideas with the guys at Haligonia.

What most people don’t know is in the early project plan it was a joint project between me and the Haligonia group. As the Tall Ships approached Haligonia were very busy with the event as they were the New Media Sponsor so we went our separate ways. I had no plans on dropping the project so I tweaked the project plan and submitted it to City Hall.

After nearly a 6 month wait we finally got word from City Hall who rejected the plan until further notice as they were working on a new volunteer strategy.  I really believe they just didn’t look at the plan properly or maybe not even at all. After taking a knock back from City Hall I ploughed on and we received hundreds of nominations.  We are now only weeks away from the ceremony with barely a ticket left and a set of amazing award winners. What can i say.. i know what works!

What’s Next

The Haliwards is in full swing so it’s only a matter of time before we know how successful it will  be but what was meant to be a low key pilot project is turning into quite an event. No complaints though! The Pride of Central Somerset 2010 is already in production and i am working with some members of last years team to put together the first steps.  We are currently taking nominations.

Click here for Part Two

This article is part of a series of posts that will be published during the month of March to celebrate 5 years of award ceremonies directed by Alex Maine. Stay tuned for the next post

I am pleased to say that you can now watch the full length version of the Pride of Central Somerset 2009 online. This is only for people who wish to watch it on the internet and is in low quality for fast loading. This is for anyone on a broadband or higher connection. If you want a full resolution copy please read the details here. You can visit the video homepage @ http://pocs.srv.cc/2009

At 6pm we got ourselves all dressed up and got into our positions. Michael down on the door selling tickets to newcomers and handing out the reserved tickets. Rhiannon Hope holding the ever growing crowd from bursting into the main hall and Tara MacPhee our house photographer who shown them to there seats. All 3 of them did a fantastic job and by 7:15 we had kicked off.

We opened with Wells City Band playing the National Anthem. The second those instruments hit there lips the room woke up and we knew that everything was going just how we had hoped. Then the performance of all performances, Georgina Bates accompanied by Chloe Harrington. It was amazing and for those of you who were there you will know what i mean! She then went on to present the First award to Mr and Mrs Argent on there sons behalf as he was busy in the 3rd world working and fundraising. I then presented an award to Roz Dommet for her work with the Ashcott Mother and Toddler group. Then our lighting technician and Deputy Stage Manager Mike presented an award to Children’s World. Georgina then returned on to the stage and presented the next award to the Mid Somerset Diabetes UK group which was accepted by the founder chairman David Brunt. Once david had said a few words we moved on to the Lions club which was met with a large cheer from the audience. The atmosphere by now was fantastic. So we needed something to really bring the first half to a close. The last award before interval was going to Sue Wilton for her work with the Christmas Card Scheme in Ashcott and we suprised Lyn the lady who began the scheme with a suprise award.

We then heading quickly into the interval where we had lots of food and refreshments for people. Sadly i didn’t get my hands on a ham sandwich but there is always next year. The interval was so busy it was unbelievable. We sold nearly 600 of the 1000 raffle tickets we had which was an amazing achievement. Once people had cleared out the food we got everything back into there seats and the Wells City Band brought us back on track.

We then moved on to the second half and we kicked off with the wonderful Poppy Lopez her performance was amazing and i will never forget it. She went on to present the sports awards to Mike Sadler, Anna Butler and Wendy Rousell. Then on to Frances Thomson teacher at Crispin School for all her hard work in the community and her work with Kenya and Masana in particular.  She gladly accepted the award and was nearly reduced to tears of happiness. Then it was my time to come back on stage. I remember saying “Its me again, surprise” well it made me laugh. I was met with another warm welcome and proceeded on to the Glastonbury and Street Rotary Club. Then we had a set of awards to hand out to the participants of the Light Up a Life services which took place across Mid Somerset. We caught up with millfield earlier in the week which you will find in one of my earlier blog posts so it left us to present the award to Brookside and they were very happy to accept it. Jemma Lawson was next to be rewarded by Michael and she said how pleased she was to be receiving the award. Finally our award to the Martha Care Trust which was accepted by Martha’s Mother Maggie Michshick she got very emotional when she spoke of her daughter and was very pleased that the work she and her supporters had done was being recognised. The amazing Wells City Band took us to a close, following this a few presentations and then all it left me to do was to close the ceremony.

It was such an amazing evening for me. All the comments i received from people were so supportive and everyone was telling me how much they enjoyed it and how it was alot more than what they were expecting. I must say there were times where i was getting rather emotional because i really have put my heart and soul into this project since October of last year. Luckily there was enough lovely ladies back stage for the odd hug and supportive message. Thanks to everyone who made the Pride of Central Somerset possible it was a milestone in my life and i hope i will return to do it again sometime. Thank you all!

(The DVD Set of the Pride of Central Somerset is now available. It contains a feature length film of the ceremony and CD containing all the photographs from the night. Details on how to order the set will be posted shortly)

A Glastonbury school choir is to be honoured at the Pride of Central Somerset Awards which take place tomorrow night at Glastonbury Town Hall at 7pm. Those being honoured include the Glastonbury and Street Rotary Club; Glastonbury and Street Lions Club; Roz Dommet, founder of the Ashcott Mother and Toddler Group; the schools that took part in the Light Up A Life services; Steven Argent, the founder of Orphfund; Frances Thomson, for her fundraising work; PCSO Jemma Lawson for her work with young people; Sue Wilton, for the Christmas card delivery scheme in Ashcott; Mid Somerset Diabetes Group; the Martha Care Trust; and Children’s World.

Millfield Preparatory School’s choir has been honoured for taking part in the recent Light up a Life campaign, a series of special events organised in the run up to Christmas by local hospices to help raise much-needed funds. Mary Webb, director of music at Millfield Preparatory School said:”The senior chamber choir were delighted to receive this award acknowledging their hard work. ”The Hospice Movement is a very worthwhile charity and we are pleased to have been able to lend our support.”

Alex Maine, the event’s organiser said: “It was great to kick things off with the presentation on Monday at Millfield.” There are still some tickets available – they can be booked by calling 01458 255012 , or bought on the door tomorrow night. The ceremony will begin at 7pm.