HARROW celebrated its most influential and selfless volunteers last week as hundreds packed out a community centre to recognise the work of nearly 150 of Harrow's Heroes.

In the past few months the Observer, a partner of the Harrow Heroes awards, has been highlighting the work of many of the nominees - in the lead up to the awards ceremony at the Kadwa Patidar Centre on Wednesday last week (October 14).

The 134 volunteers put forward for the seven categories were handed certificates for their efforts whilst one nominee in each section was selected by a panel as a winner and handed a cheque to give to their selected charity.

Seventeen year-old Hilda Piyogu Kwafo-Akoto scooped the young volunteer of the year award and overall volunteer prize, while community volunteer of the year and sports volunteer of the year went to Bladev Sharma and Sally Baldwin respectively.

International volunteer of the year went to John Pennels, Ron Dickens picked up the award for Environmental volunteer of the year, Sonoo Malkani took partnership volunteer of the year and Sylvia James went home with the trustee/committee member of the year.

A host of dignatries from St Luke's Hospice, the Edgware and Stanmore Rotary Club, Harrow Council and the Harrow Volunteer Centre were on hand to present the awards as the collective partners of the scheme.

In the programme notes for the evening councillor Jean Lammiman, responsible for community and cultural services, praised the efforts of all of the nominees. She said: "Volunteers play a key role in the life of the borough and we know that volunteering helps to build more cohesive communities.

"Each nomination tells a different story of how their work has made a difference to the lives of the residents and community in Harrow.

"The awards are a way of celebrating and thanking all the volunteers for their hard work and support."

Speaking at the event, in reference to demonstrations outside Harrow Central mosque last month, Mayor councillor Eric Silver added: "People have tried to come in to the borough and split this community - but they will never succeed.

"We live together and work together and initiatives like this show that the spirit we have in Harrow has and will remain very strong."