The region's community heroes were celebrated at the Pride of Manchester awards. Hundreds of guests gathered at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel last night (Thursday, May 10) for the dazzling awards.
Awards were presented by the likes of Harry Maguire, Christine McGuinness and Bez, among other big names.
In total, 11 awards were handed out. The people and organisations below really are the pride of Manchester. These are their stores...
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Figen Murray — Special Recognition
Figen Murray lost her son Martyn Hett in the 2017 Arena bombing. Since then, she has tirelessly campaigned to change the law around security at venues and how they deal with terrorist incidents.
Receiving a standing ovation for her award, she told the audience why she decided to forgive the terrorist.
"It was quite an easy decision," she said. "I looked at the bigger picture. I saw the terrorist as an innocent baby. I thought ‘you were born innocent and somebody poisoned your mind’.”
“It’s an absolute privilege,” proud Figen told the Manchester Evening News after her win. “I’m really humbled. Obviously, I don't do any of my work to get awards so it always surprises me when I get an award, because it reminds me somebody is listening.
“I never know if people are taking it in. I think I’m most proud of talking to 26,000 kids about kindness, forgiveness, and compassion, when I came up with Martyn’s Law that was top of my list.”
Figen was presented her award by actress Sue Johnston and fashionista Jsky. Jsky, from Bury, said: “I think Figen has changed everyone’s world, not just in Manchester. To know there’s still so much work to be done, and for it to be done by a victim of the night, [means] it’s a very deserved award.”
Florence Coke — TSB Community Hero
To Stockport, Florence Coke is simply Mama Flo. The grandmother of seven, who was born in Jamaica, has spent decades raising funds for schools and local hospitals — but she is best known for her Caribbean takeaway shop.
That’s where she makes sure the most vulnerable are fed. That was most obvious during the pandemic, when the 68-year-old came to the community’s aid, providing hundreds of free meals to hospitals, care homes and schools - as well as NHS staff and key workers.
Then, as the cost of living crisis kicked in, she moved on to providing free meals to scores of hungry school children during holiday time. Her generosity didn't end there. She spent the festive period cooking for pensioners.
She's up at 4am every day to get everything ready. Even after winning her award, Florence told the Manchester Evening News she’d be in her shop by 5am the next morning.
“It’s not done,” she said. “I’m going to go to work tomorrow morning. I’ve got kids' summer holidays coming up - it never stops!”
Her Buxton Road restaurant, Mama Flo's, with its signature curry goat and brown stew chicken, has been given the thumbs up by famous faces including footballers Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. But for Florence, everyone in the community counts. She added: “When I was a little girl, my dad would make food abundantly. We’d feed all the people in the village."
Florence was handed her award by England footballer Harry Maguire and Stockport actor Will Mellor - and she said she ‘couldn’t be happier’. “It was amazing to read about the story and how much Florence has done over the last few years,” Harry told the M.E.N.
“It's just incredible. She’s a real inspiration to myself and to everyone in that room.”
“She represents exactly what community is,” Will added. “I represent that working class background and when you have people like Florence in the community it just helps you get through and puts a smile on your face.
“It makes you forget about your problems for five minutes. It’s exactly what we need in the community. This lady is standing tall in front of everyone.”
Greg Davis — Children’s Champion
Greg Davis has spent nearly three decades improving the lives of young people in his community. He founded United Estates of Wythenshawe in 1996 to tackle gang culture and anti-social behaviour, providing people with better resources and opportunities.
United Estates was founded in the spirit of 'creative vandalism'. He added: “We use the potentially negative energy of street gang culture and create pockets of positive community enterprise, owned, led and managed by local people.”
After he was given access to a run-down building by the Methodist Church, he enlisted the help of locals to repair and revitalise it. Today, it is home to a gym, a dance and performing arts space and recording studio, as well as a drop-in centre, café and a Mums Mart community food facility, including a no questions asked food bank.
His award was presented by Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder and Bez and New Order’s Peter Hook. The trio sang Blue Monday as they presented him the gong.
The award-winner said he hoped ‘local people’ would get the chance to influence government policy, instead of taking orders from Westminster. “We can’t wait for anybody else to do it for us - we have to do it ourselves,” he added.
“Everybody who won an award today didn’t do it for the thank you - but this is like the biggest thank you in the world,” he told the M.E.N. “What bigger thank you are you ever going to get? It’s great, I’m so happy!”
Laughing with the music legends who handed him his award, Greg said he was delighted. “These boys wrote the soundtrack to my life,” he added. “So it means something to me.”
Taylor Dignan — Child of Courage
At just two days old, Taylor was on the operating table. He was diagnosed with Anterior Segment Dysgenesis (ASD) shortly after he was born, and the procedure was far from his last.
ASD is a spectrum of disorders, and in Taylor’s case, he is blind in one eye, has 'shell-like' teeth and has to inject growth hormones every day. Taylor, from Stockport, was bullied at school for looking different, which affected his confidence, but rather than feeling sorry for himself, at the age of 10 he decided to raise money for the hospitals that continue to treat him and also help other children with disabilities celebrate their differences.
For his first challenge he completed 11 one-mile runs cheered on by mum Sam, dad Dan, and younger brothers Harrison, eight, and Bobby, six. He ended up at his beloved Stockport County football ground and managed to raise more than £2,500 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.
Taylor said collecting his award was ‘scary’ but ‘exciting’. For other children struggling with bullying, the 11-year-old said: “Ignore bullies, and believe in yourself - a lot!”
It was a special night for the amazing young man, who said he was back to school first thing in the morning to sit his SATs. After handing Taylor his award, Helen Flanagan told the M.E.N. she found his story particularly emotional as a mother herself.
“He’s amazing,” she said. “It’s inspirational for my children and others of a similar age.”
Mines Advisory Group — Outstanding Contribution
For a little-known team, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) certainly punches above its weight. The team’s work stretches back more than 30 years, clearing deadly landmines and saving lives everywhere from Myanmar and South Sudan to Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Niger.
Now the Manchester-based charity MAG is one of the world’s leading landmine awareness and clearance bodies. Its work is more important than ever. Founded in 1989 by former British Army engineer Rae McGrath and his brother Lou, the team is currently working in Ukraine, where landmines and cluster munitions are devastating communities, as well as Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones around the world.
In 1992, the organisation joined forces with Human Rights Watch, Medico International, Handicap International (now Humanity and Inclusion), Physicians for Human Rights and the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation to form the coalition International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
Explaining why he started his brave organisation, Rae McGrath said: “In the 1980s, we were doing agricultural work and we already recognised mines were a problem.
“I was walking in the grazing land one day with some of the local Afghans and we found the remains of a little boy. His foot had been blown off by a small land mine. The realisation was he must have slowly bled to death. As I spent the next few weeks we realised that almost every village has lost kids and some were never found.
“That for me was awakening that mines were a huge problem in Afghanistan, and if they are a problem there, they must have been a problem wherever they had been used.”
Rae told the M.E.N receiving the award was a ‘wonderful statement’ about the group’s work. “It makes me very proud as the founder,” he said. “It’s nice to know that people in Manchester, where the headquarters are, really understand what they are going through.”
“We’re really grateful for the recognition,” MAG chief executive Darren Cormack said. “I think our job is to use it to continue to advocate for 60 million people who remain trapped by the fear of landmines around the world.”
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty, who handed the group their award, said they are a ‘brilliant’ charity and urged people to ‘not forget’ their work once ward move out the news agenda.
Hannah Miah — Young Fundraiser
Hannah grew up inspired by her community activist grandfather Mohammed, who taught her about the importance of charity. After watching a video about street children in Bangladesh, where Mohammed supported a school, the 10-year-old from Oldham decided she wanted to help.
She pledged to walk 40km during Ramadan and initially set herself a £1,000 fundraising target. By the time she finished, her total had reached £15,620 for the Muslim Charity which went towards building two shelters for street children.
Sadly, just after Hannah's first charity campaign, her grandad passed away. She was determined to keep on fundraising in his memory during Ramadan last May, she walked 50km and climbed Snowdon in Wales, raising a further £8,500.
Hannah told the M.E.N she plans to continue her fundraising work, and will climb Ben Nevis for charity in the near future.
“My grandfather told me to keep trying and help those who are less fortunate,” she said. “So that’s what I’ll keep doing.”
“The work Hannah has been doing is incredible,” said Lioness Alessia Russo, who presented Hannah with her award alongside Katie Zelem. “It has been a privilege to come and hand her the award.”
John Jones — Fundraiser of the Year
He’s spent three decades keeping people entertained — and raising £420,000 for local charities — but, at the age of 80, John Jones is still giving up his time for others.
The retired engineer from Macclesfield has generated £320,000 in donations for East Cheshire Hospice and £100,000 for Macclesfield Hospital, where he was touched by the care his wife Joan received before she passed away in 2020.
John’s win provided the most striking moment of the night, when the pensioner led the audience through the chorus of Sweet Caroline — on an accordion.
Speaking to the M.E.N, John said playing the accordion helped keep the memory of his wife alive for him. “I could stop, but why would I?” he asked. “I’ve got no reason to. I love it.”
He said he hopes younger generations come to appreciate the accordion, adding that he can play a ‘huge catalogue’ of music on his beloved instrument - from Neil Diamond to ABBA! “It makes you so proud to be from Manchester,” Corrie star Ellie Leach said. “You can learn so much from people like John. He is amazing!”
PC Paul Spinks — Emergency Services award
Another hero that was commended was PC Paul Spinks. He was off-duty last May when he spotted a man wielding a machete and making threats to members of the public near a school in Salford.
With parents and children arriving on the morning school run, PC Spinks felt he had to act.
After calling in the incident, despite wearing civilian clothes and without any protective equipment, he approached the man with the blade directly.
The man was agitated and not responding positively so PC Spinks realised he needed to detain him. After making sure members of the public were at a safe distance, and at great risk to himself, he tackled the man. A struggle ensued and PC Spinks was eventually able to disarm and restrain him. The man was later convicted and jailed.
A visibly emotional PC Spinks explained what went through his mind on the day of the attack: “You forget about self-preservation.
“I am an adult. I got children diverted, I have seen young people succumb to injuries from violent people.
“I was a responder to the Arena attack. I knew I had to do something — that something was disarming him as soon as possible.”
After picking up his award, he told the M.E.N: “I am quite humbled. For myself, it’s what I do every day but from what people tell me it was a heroic act.
“I am extremely grateful to the people of Manchester, and to my colleagues and the force. [The award] is a buzz. It’s like I am riding on a cloud.
“This is what I do day in, day out. This is a small example of that.”
Ehinor Otaigbe-Amedu — Special Recognition
Ehinor is dedicated to helping women live their best lives - and access the support they need. She founded Wonderfully Made Woman, a dynamic charity that helps deal with challenges from isolation to domestic abuse.
Inspired by her own lack of confidence after her marriage ended, she wanted to share her experiences to help others find solidarity and fulfil their potential. Ehinor, a lawyer, set up her charity ten years ago to provide a lifeline to women who have experienced domestic abuse or social isolation.
The organisation holds confidence-building workshops to boost self-awareness, classes such as Crochet in Confidence to relieve stress and anxiety, digital skills training and employment support.
As a lone parent, she has also set about addressing the stigma women like her face, hosting befriending sessions for other mums and helping more than 500 women access housing benefits and childcare support and advice around finance advice and immigration issues.
She also started the first African food bank in Greater Manchester, supporting almost 2,000 women and their families across the city.
Ehinor told the M.E.N she was feeling ‘overwhelmed’ after being handed her award by Strictly stars Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec.
“Initially when I got the call I was shocked,” she said. “When you’re working on supporting people, you’re not doing it for the recognition. You just want to make sure women are safe and children are safe.
“So I was really shocked but really happy to be nominated, it is such an honour. When I see the difference we are able to make in people’s lives it keeps me going.”
Alijaz said presenting the award was ‘humbling’ alongside wife Jeanette, who told the M.E.N she is an ambassador for a domestic violence charity herself. “It’s an absolute honour,” she said. “It’s a very special night, and it’s amazing to see this message being spread here in Manchester.”
Deborah Dixon — Special Recognition
Deborah’s son Aaron was just 23 when he passed away in his sleep at home, one of the 12 young people in the UK who die every week from an undetected heart defect.
Following the 2011 tragedy, Deborah was determined to help prevent the same thing happening to other young people, so she set up a memorial fund to raise money for a comprehensive screening programme.
Since 2014, she has raised £500,000, paying for 5,371 people to be screened - of those, 168 had potentially fatal abnormalities. Working with The English Institute of Sport, the fund has also paid for 810 elite athletes to be screened - something which isn’t available on the NHS, and Deborah is now campaigning for the introduction of a national screening programme too.
Following her win, the mum said: “It’s extremely overwhelming. I’m just a mum who is trying to make a difference.
“My goal is fundraising, it’s addictive now. I spend my life going round with a begging bowl because each screening day costs me £6,000. Tonight has been rather surreal!”
Peter Garsden — Special Recognition
Peter was a young solicitor working in the criminal justice system when one of his clients, a man with a long criminal record, broke down in tears in his office. He told Peter the appalling story of how he had been abused growing up in children's homes.
Peter recalled: "It was very harrowing. I had a hard-as-nails grown man with a string of convictions against his name sitting in my office and sobbing uncontrollably. “In those early days, I didn’t know how to deal with it. And I was shocked. I hadn’t appreciated that child abuse was rife in children’s homes."
Peter took up the man's case, and it took over his life. Over the years, more and more victims came forward, until there were 800 claimants. Finally, 15 years after the first victim sat in his office, Peter won £5 million in damages for the victims.
Since then, Peter, 65, has become a national leader in fighting for justice for victims and founded the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers; representing more than 1,000 victims in 25 cases, and establishing guidelines for helping victims through the legal process. Peter, who has also fostered 18 children with his wife, said: “You don’t do it for the recognition. You do it because its the right thing to do. But its been really hard work - a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into it. So in that sense it is nice to be recognised.”
Peter was handed his award by Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who said when judging the award, she knew Peter was ‘the one’.
“I just thought, we are not leaving without giving this man an award,” she said. “This is what Greater Manchester is all about. These people can look at Peter standing on that stage tonight and know that Greater Manchester is behind them.”
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