BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey held their inaugural ‘Community Heroes’ Awards at the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley on the 15 December 2011. 9 awards and 2 special achievement awards were available to nominees from across Sussex, Surrey and North Hampshire. All the nominees were winners for being recognised in their respective categories. The judges had an almost impossible task to decide who the eventual winners were to be.
The ‘Community Heroes Award for Sport’ was announced by BBC Sussex & Surrey Sports presenter Tim Durrans and awarded to Graham Cridland by Para Olympian Sophie Warner. Graham Cridland who lives in Pound Hill, Crawley, is Managing Director and Chairman of West Sussex Angling Academy, FSB member, and is also President Elect of Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club.
Graham said, “There were so many fantastic & deserving people at the awards; I was convinced I had not won, I am completely overwhelmed. I have to thank SR Technics, the owners and staff at Henfold Fishery, All my staff and volunteers, our clients for making a difference to their lives, and to my long suffering wife and family, who have had to put up with the last 31 yrs of me coaching with Rugby and now Fishing. Thank you everyone.”
Graham has achieved all this while working nightshift for SR Technics, maintaining Easyjet’s fleet at Gatwick Airport. Graham is a member of the FSB and Crawley & Gatwick Chamber of Commerce. Graham is also a member and President Elect of Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club, which Graham takes over in March when the current President leaves for the USA. Graham has been a member for 3 yrs and is looking for GDRC to form a Rotoract club when the Academy gains planning permission for new classroom building.
The Academy, based at Henfold Leisure Lakes, Henfold Lane, Newdigate, uses fishing to help disadvantaged young/adult people, schools, special needs schools, community groups, care homes and respite days for all members of the Armed Forces, to rebuild their confidence, self esteem and family cohesion.
Sophie Warner, Graham Cridland & Tim Durrans
