Incredible people from Southport who do so much for the community were honoured with a special visit by Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Mark Blundell and Deputy Lieutenant Julie Lawson BEM.
The meeting took place at The Grand in Southport and included presentations to some of the winners in this year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
They included ‘Sarah’, a brave 14-year-old who saved the lives of several younger children in the Southport tragedy last summer.
Over the past few months ‘Sarah’ has raised funds for charity and awareness by running in the Mini Marathon in London, as well as campaigning on the issue of knife crime.
‘Sarah’ won a Sefton Child of Courage Award sponsored by Adventure Coast Southport at the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Mark Blundell and Julie Lawson BEM enjoyed spending time listening to her plans for helping people in the future and about her experiences.
They presented a Sefton Unsung Hero Award sponsored by Fletchers Solicitors to Steve Mitton, Pamela Mitton, Tommy Mitton and Summer Mitton.
This kind-hearted family on Hart Street in Southport opened their doors on the day of the tragedy and cared for children who had been wounded last summer, as they called for emergency services to respond.
Ibrahim Hussein, the Imam at Southport Mosque, was presented with a Sefton Diversity and Inclusion Award sponsored by Sefton Council.
He was inside the Mosque when it was attacked by rioters just 24 hours after the Southport tragedy.
Since then he has stood tall as an impressive community leader in Southport, a sane and uniting voice during turbulent times.
He supported the clean-up operation after the riot; has held open days at the mosque; and in the Walk Of Unity in Southport.
The Imam was among Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders, local politicians, community leaders and members of the public today who took part in a Walk Of Unity from Southport Mosque on Sussex Road to Southport Synagogue on Arnside Road.
He gave a powerful speech in which he said: “We will always be together; we will not be divided; and hatred will never take place in our society.”
Also thanked were Dave Ward and Stephen Latham from Southport Hesketh Round Table, who won a Sefton Charity Award sponsored by Halliwell Jones Kia at the Grand Pride of Sefton Awards.
The Round Table already does so much locally, bringing festive cheer to families across the Southport area with their annual Santa Float and their famous ‘dancing Santa’.
They have raised a fortune for good causes locally through events such as the Grand Bonfire and Fireworks Display; the Southport Mad Dog 10k run; collecting money with Pudsey Bear for Children in Need.
Over the past few years they have raised over £200,000 for the families affected by the Southport tragedy, as they look ahead to their 50th anniversary next year.
Also thanked on the day were several volunteers from Lord Street In Bloom.
Last summer they appeared in the Town Hall Gardens seven days a week, tending and watering the many thousands of flowers and tributes left in the Town Hall Gardens in Southport after the tragedy.
This year they have been busy working with partners such as Sefton Council, the Asda Foundation, Dowhigh, Bootle Tool Shed and others to transform the Town Hall Gardens with new planters, and thousands of new flowers and plants to create a special area for families.
Mark Blundell and Julie Lawson BEM said: “We were privileged to meet some of the families involved in last year’s events in Southport.
“It was an honour to present Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards to Steve Mitton, Pamela Mitton, Tommy Mitton and Summer Mitton and to Ibrahim Hussein.
“It was a pleasure to listen to ‘Sarah’ and her family and hear her plans for the future.
“Ahead of the 2025 Volunteers Week, we also enjoyed meeting the fantastic volunteers from Lord Street In Bloom and from Southport Hesketh Round Table.
“We thank them all for the huge efforts they go to to make their community a better place for all.”
Stand Up For Southport Director Andrew Brown said: “Mark Blundell and Julie Lawson BEM contacted us and were very keen to come to Southport to meet some of the amazing people we have here who are doing so much to support others.
“We’re really grateful for the time they spent with everyone and for their keen interest in what is happening in Southport.
“It was brilliant to see them able to present the much-deserved Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards in person to Steve Mitton, Pamela Mitton, Tommy Mitton and Summer Mitton and to Ibrahim Hussein.”
In April, inspirational people from across the borough were honoured at the 2025 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
On an emotional and uplifting evening at The Grand in Southport, awards were presented to people and organisations who have contributed so much to improve life for others in our community.
The main award was made in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Next year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards take place at The Grand in Southport on Friday 24th April 2026. You can nominate here: Pride Of Sefton Awards
For more details about the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards please email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
