1:35pm Thursday 25th January 2007
By Gemma Wheatley
Brian Hall won parent of the year award at the ceremony in November last year after being nominated by his daughter.
He described the Croydon Champions campaign and the feeling of winning his category as "a wonderful experience".
Brian, 77, cares for his 39-year-old son Philip, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. His days are devoted to making sure Philip receives everything he needs. He explains: "When the Croydon Guardian rang me last year to tell me I had been nominated for the award I was very surprised. And then the ceremony was a lovely night and I was so shocked when they called my name out as winner.
"The other two nominees were just as deserving, but it was fantastic and I would encourage anyone to nominate someone they know who they think deserves an award."
Just days after launching our 2007 campaign, the nominations began to arrive at our offices. In the coming weeks you will be able to read their amazing stories.
If you know a person or organisation in your community who you feel deserves recognition for the good work they do, then nominate them now. Throughout the year we will be highlighting their good deeds and acts of courage in the Croydon Guardian.
The top three nominees from each category will be invited to attend the Croydon Champions gala reception, where each winner will receive an award. Winner of the 2006 diversity award, Shereen Samar, said she had never experienced anything like the feeling of last year's ceremony.
She adds: "It was such a shock to win and I just didn't expect it because when I was sitting in the audience and the voiceover was talking about me, it just felt like they were talking about a different person.
"When I saw what the other nominees had done I didn't think I had a chance and when I won it was like I was at the Oscars - I have never experienced anything like it in my life. The evening was great because I got to meet so many people who do so many amazing things for Croydon. You walk past people in the street every day and you have no idea about these things and with all the bad news in the town it was nice to see so much positivity come out on the night."
If you know someone who you feel deserves recognition we want to hear about them. They may also find themselves on the Croydon Champions page of the Croydon Guardian and the person you nominate may be crowned a Croydon Champion.
Complete the nomination form on this page, making sure you specify which category you would like them to be included in, and we will do the rest.
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