The Host

The ‘My Place in Stockport’ awards were hosted by experienced broadcaster Jim Hancock. Jim has been reporting on the political scene in the North West for over thirty years, interviewing every Prime Minister from Harold Wilson to Tony Blair.

Between 1987 until 1994, Jim was Political Correspondent for Granada Television, which was followed by a period as a national Political Correspondent with the BBC.

From 1998 until July 2006 Jim was the BBC's Political Editor for the North West reporting for the nightly news programme North West Tonight from the region and Westminster. He also presented the regional part of the successful BBC1 Sunday programme “The Politics Show”.

Jim is currently an Associate of Vision Creative & Communications Consultants. He is married to Frances Done CBE, the former Chief Executive of the Manchester Commonwealth Games. They have two grownup sons and live in Cheshire.

The Judges

The award judges, who devoted many hours to choosing tonight’s winners were:

• Tariq Ahmed, Community Foundation for Greater Manchester
• Kerry Clark, Solutions SK
• Lynda Denmead, Lend Lease Retail & Communities
• Rebecca Fell, Sale Sharks Rugby Club
• Borough Commander Steve Fisher, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue
• Cllr Dave Goddard, Leader of Stockport Council
• Paul Kirkham, Stockport Economic Alliance
• Mandy Leigh, Stockport Express & Times
• Pete Liggins, Pure 107.8FM
• Pat McGough, Stockport Community & Voluntary Services
• Superintendent Rob Potts, Greater Manchester Police
• Kerry Thomson, John Lewis

Children’s Champion

Schools in Stockport took charge of their own special category as part of this awards scheme, with pupils and school councils from all over the borough nominating those people around them who make their school lives and education better.

The shortlisted entries were then judged by the education team at the Council, along with a number of teachers.