Companies, individuals, charities and public sector bodies on the Island were honoured last night (Thursday) at the annual Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence.
More than 1,200 people packed into the Villa Marina in Douglas to see the celebration of achievement and success, and enjoy entertainment from 'Four Poofs and a Piano' and compere for the evening, impressionist Rory Bremner.
James Davis reports (text, below, from attached audio file):
On a night in which excellence was celebrated across a wide spectrum of Island life, 16 awards were made.
The winners: CVI Technical Optics, the Chartered Management Institute, for the Executive Challenge; the Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council; the Income Tax Division; the Capital International Group; Manx Telecom; Friends Provident International; Green Mann Spring Water; Ramsey Cottage Hospital; Strix; Appleby; Sure and the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster.
There was also success for Darren Young, winner of the award for Young Achiever; Carol Pattie, who was named Volunteer of the Year; and Chris Stott, the Business Person of the Year.
However, there was no doubting the most moving part of the evening – the lifetime achievement award went to Deemster Mike Kerruish, who died in July.
Members of his family, friends and colleagues paid tribute to him in an emotional video remembering his contribution to Manx life.
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