Special guest Reading lad Chris Tarrant has been committed to the awards from the start and every year takes no fee. Instead the awards organisers donate cash to the charity of his choice; this year Swings & Smiles which supports disabled children in Reading.
At the lunch he received a special Pride of Reading award to say thank you for his sterling support.
One of the awards founders Andy Murrill, former editor of the Reading Evening Post, told guests: “He’s been doing it for the past 20 years and he’s been a total star, making it such a special day for the amazing ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
Artists and local Electric Hair salon owner Mark Woolley was kind enough to contribute an original artwork to be auctioned to raise funds for Swings & Smiles, Chris Tarrant’s chosen charity.
The winning bid from generous Paul Foley of The Kitchen restaurant raised £3,000, and £4,000 was contributed by the Pride of Reading Awards, bringing the total for the charity which supports disabled children and their families in Reading to £7,000.
The Kitchen at Reading College won the Hospitality award, inspired by and in memory of food journalist and former deputy editor of the Reading Evening Post Hilary Scott, who sadly passed away in 2022. She was a driving force behind the awards.
The award is sponsored by Cream Design.
