Last night the "cream of Croydon" gathered at the Hilton hotel in Purley for the annual Croydon Champion awards.
Now in its 15th year, Croydon Champions celebrates the very best the borough has to offer in a wide range of categories, recognizing everything from bravery to business acumen, courage to charity work.
Arrivals were greeted with a drinks reception in the hotel foyer accompanied by the sound of violinists from Royal Russell school.
After the nominees and guests filed through to the main hall to sit down to a buffet dinner, the ceremony got underway with a warm welcome from the evening's host, former Croydon Guardian editor Nicholas Hitchens.
Mr Hitchens, who himself recently moved to Croydon, said it was an "honour" to be returning to host the awards.
In among the prize-giving the audience were also entertained by performances from two Brit School students, Zola Bridgey and Isaac Strange.
.@ZBridgey covering The Boss at #croydonchamps2015 pic.twitter.com/HOtQFZXH98
— Croydon Guardian (@CroydonGuardian) January 28, 2016
Altogether awards in ten categories were handed out on the night, including gongs for parent of the year, charity volunteer, and community work.
Speaking towards the end of the evening, current deputy and future mayor of Croydon, Wayne Trakas-Lawlor, said those gathered in the room were the "cream of Croydon.
Congratulations Melody Driscoll, winner of the child of courage award #croydonchamps2015 pic.twitter.com/N6qIWXgxv0
— Croydon Partnership (@CroydonPartners) January 29, 2016
He added: "We're all mighty proud of you".
Below is a full list of Croydon Champions 2015 winners, and some of the best photos from the night.
Parent of the Year
Winner: Nicola Sullivan
Highly commended: Toks Timson
Commended: Sasha Handley
Nicola Sullivan, who was named parent of the year after being nominated by her brother, Thomas
Teacher
Winner: Di Layzelle (Croydon College)
Highly commended: Kate Magliocco (Harris Primary Academy Kenley)
Commended: James Stagg – (Harris Academy South Norwood)
Team
Winner: Sensible Garden
Highly commended: Thornton Heath Community Action Team
Commended: Croydon Panathlon
Young Person
Winner: Neelam Shah
Highly commended: Faith Price
Commended: Humza Shahzad
Act of Bravery
Winner: PC Alex Hannah
Highly commended: Kevin Beatt
Commended: Alfred Green
Arts and Entertainment
Winner: Tim Eveleigh
Highly commended: Ally McKinlay
Commended: Adrian Winchester
Delighted to say #Croydon #SaffronCentral has been Highly Commended @CroydonGuardian #croydonchamps2015 pic.twitter.com/c2jpMZHntF
— Ally McKinlay (@BadgerJellyfish) January 28, 2016
Business
Winner: Dennie Smith
Highly commended: Kevin Zuchowski-Morrison
Commended: Purley BID
Charity Volunteer
Winner: Camilla Bowry
Highly commended: Adele Rutledge
Commended: Claire Lewis
Charity volunteer winner Camilla Bowry, who has sent thousands of second-hand shoes to Syrian and Iraqi children languishing in refugee camps
Child of Courage
Winner: Melody Driscoll
Highly commended: Scarlett Hewitt
Commended: Aaron Bigord
Community
Winner: Ian Thompson
Highly commended: Roger Fisher
Commended: Madia Rahman
Ian Thompson, who was named community worker of the year for breathing new life into St Jude's church in Thornton Heath
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