The finalists of this year’s Comet Community Awards have been announced as we prepare for a special ceremony to recognise unsung heroes in just over a week’s time.

The Comet: Comet Community Awards 2015 judgingComet Community Awards 2015 judging (Image: Archant)

An 11-strong judging panel made up of award sponsors met at the Comet’s offices last week to work their way through hundreds of entries, eventually coming up with a shortlist of three individuals or groups for each of the 12 categories.

The deserving finalists have been offered free tickets to the awards ceremony which takes place next Friday, May 15, at The Forum Conference and Banqueting Suite in Stevenage town centre.

Sky Sports’ F1 commentator and former Comet sports reporter David Croft will host the evening, when all the winners will be crowned after enjoying a sit-down meal and entertainment.

The Comet: Peter Brooker from PayPoint and Iain Hutchinson of Altro Ltd get down to the business of judging.Peter Brooker from PayPoint and Iain Hutchinson of Altro Ltd get down to the business of judging. (Image: Archant)

Ahead of the ceremony, a spokesman for Retail and Leisure – the landlord of Stevenage-based lead sponsor Roaring Meg – said: “These awards let the heroes know that their contributions are acknowledged and how grateful the wider community are.

“We have enjoyed reading all the nominations each month and it makes you realise how selfless people can be in helping others.

“Working with our local community is especially important to Roaring Meg and to be able to take part in an award which focuses on such an important part of ‘community’ has been an honour for us.”

The Comet: Dancers from Hitchin's Priory School are finalists in the Charity Champions category.Dancers from Hitchin's Priory School are finalists in the Charity Champions category. (Image: ghgh)

The night will also be raising funds for Garden House Hospice in Letchworth, which has been providing care to terminally ill people from Stevenage and North Herts for the past 25 years.

The hospice’s community fundraiser Jo Wiffen said: “This year we must raise in excess of £1.7 million to maintain the current level of services, and this would not be possible without the financial support of the community we serve.

“We are honoured to have been invited to hold a raffle on the evening at an event that celebrates the contribution made locally by members of our community.”

The Comet: Stevenage poppy appeal organisers Pat and Richard Mott are Charity Champions finalists.Stevenage poppy appeal organisers Pat and Richard Mott are Charity Champions finalists. (Image: Archant)

The main prize for the evening – a full health screening worth £460 – has been donated by Nurse/Care Worker of the Year sponsors Pinehill Hospital in Hitchin.

The finalists are:

• Young Achiever sponsored by Altro Ltd

The Comet: Deborah Bone, who died in December from cancer, has been put forward posthumously as a finalist in two categoriesDeborah Bone, who died in December from cancer, has been put forward posthumously as a finalist in two categories (Image: Archant)

- Immy Horgan-Blackwood

- Darragh Lane

- Hannah Price

• Carer of the Year – B&M Care

- Sonya Chedumbrum

- Jackie Nealon

- Tracey O’Connor

• Charity Champions – BBW Solicitors

- The Priory School

- Pat and Richard Mott

- Stephen Sapsed

• Great and Green – Bracey’s Accountants

- Camps Hill School

- Letchworth Community Garden

- Hitchin Initiative’s Big Spring Clean Up

• Parent in a Million – Lancaster Volkswagen Letchworth

- Jean Day

- Kerry Mitchell

- Maddie Samson

• Lifetime Achievement – Morrison Utility Services

- Sonya Chedumbrum

- Deborah Bone MBE

- Anne Brown

• Good Neighbour – North Hertfordshire Homes

- Ash Class, Garden City Academy

- Michelle Phillcox

- Dawn Sheldrick

• Service to the Community – PayPoint

- Anne Brown

- Immy Horgan-Blackwood

- Jackie Nealon

• Nurse/Care Worker of the Year – Pinehill Hospital

- Deborah Bone MBE

- Wendy Darnell

-Sharon Pearson

• Role Model of the Year – Specsavers Stevenage

- John and Sarah Mead

- Darragh Lane

- Jeanette Pearson

• Valiant Volunteer – Roaring Meg

- Carers in Hertfordshire – Bereavement Group

- Lorna Hemmings

- Victoria Usher

• Teacher of the Year – University of Hertfordshire

- Siobhan Eckersall

- Zara Richards

- Stephen Sapsed