Barrow’s unsung heroes were honoured at an awards ceremony for their tireless work and dedication.
The Love Barrow Community Awards celebrated its 20th anniversary at Abbey House Hotel & Gardens, recognising 11 local heroes and community superstars who go the extra mile to help others, with a special surprise award for Dave Myers, accepted on behalf of her late husband by Liliana Myers.
Nominations from the community opened in the summer and almost 800 submissions were received – a record for the awards.
They were judged by the Love Barrow Awards committee – volunteers living and connected to the Barrow and Furness areas – who said they had an extremely difficult job in selecting the finalists, due to the high quality of nominations.
In 11 categories, three individuals or organisations were selected as finalists.
Over 190 people attended this year’s 20th awards ceremony hosted by Tony Callister, where the guests watched the premiere of short videos about the fantastic work undertaken in the community by the finalists, before each winner was announced.
This year also marked the introduction of a new award, The Spirit of Collaboration, a joint award that celebrates both an individual and a group that have worked together to achieve amazing things.
The award was suggested by High Sheriff of Cumbria, Dr Geoff Joliffe who also sponsored the award this year, choosing his High Sheriff’s theme of neurodiversity as the theme of the collaboration, recognising both challenges and successes around that theme.
Chair of the Love Barrow Awards, DT Guest, said: “It is fantastic that we are now celebrating the 20th year of these community awards. They continue to go from strength to strength, directly recognising individuals and groups with the help of the people of Barrow and the surrounding Furness area.
“This year has seen another record breaking year in nominations with nearly 800 people or organisations nominated. This demonstrates the continuing value of the awards, and how people want to say thank you to others for making our locality lovely.
“The awards are only possible due to the continued support from our fantastic sponsors. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their generosity, help and support over the years.
“This year we had to quickly move from our long standing venue The Forum to Abbey House, where the awards first started 20 years ago! The staff at Abbey House deserve recognition for their warm welcome, expertise and invaluable contributions to ensuring the awards evening was a great success.”
To recognise the 20th year, 20 nominees were selected at random and received a £20 voucher each to spend at The Townhouse or The Dunes, sponsored by the Lucidity Group.
Dduring the event commemorative key rings were gifted to guests, specially made by Lilly-Mae Grimes, last year’s winner of Young Citizen of the Year, who continues to raise money for CancerCare, now with her very own micro-social enterprise ‘Lilly Mae’s Pens for Charity’.
During the awards evening a raffle was held, with local people and organisations generously donating prizes. The raffle raised £1,236. Those funds were presented on the night to CancerCare, Barrow, a charity nominated by Liliana Myers, the wife of Hairy Biker Dave.
Dave Myers was posthumously awarded this year’s Love Barrow Awards Ambassador of the Year.
It recognised the contribution Dave made during his life, and through his illness, in promoting the values of the awards, the Furness Peninsula and the South Lakes area.
Liliana talked of Dave’s love for Barrow-in-Furness, the overwhelming success of Dave Day 2024, and plans for this year’s event.
Following the awards ceremony, all the flower arrangements from the tables were donated to St Marys Hospice, Ulverston.
DT added: “On behalf of the Love Barrow committee, and the community of the Barrow and Furness area, I would like to thank all those involved in making the Love Barrow Community Awards 20th anniversary a huge success.
“There was a great atmosphere and buzz in the room all evening, and it was clear all those in attendance really enjoyed themselves.
“This is just the beginning though as we have plans and ideas to expand the community impact of the awards.”
The Love Barrow Community Awards is a project run by a community interest company of the same name.
Love Barrow Awards 2025
Student of the Year
- Winner: Teagan-Paige Jefferson
- Phoebe Smith
- Amy White
Community Focused Business of the Year
- Winner: MKM Barrow
- Chatsworth Signs
- Charnley’s Home and Garden
Carer of the Year
- Winner: Dawn Huitson
- Valerie Kirkby
- Sharon Durdu
Teacher of the Year
- Winner: Sue Hannan
- David Reddy
- Marion Stanton
Oak Tree Award
- Winner: Barrow RNLI
- St Mary’s Compassionate Communities Team
- Inspira
Spirit of Collaboration
- Phoebe Smith and DFN Project Search
Group or Project of the Year
- Winner: Andy’s Man Club
- 128 (Barrow in Furness) Squadron RAFAC
- Furness Group Riding for the Disabled
Citizen of the Year
- Winner: Ben Tiffney
- Maurice Watkin
- Jonathan Weakley
Young Citizen of the Year
- Winner: Lincoln Johnson
- Jack Hampshire
- Scarlett Hardman
People’s Choice Award
- Phoebe Smith – based on a public vote
Ambassador
- Dave Myers, accepted by his wife Liliana
