A FORMER army medic who set up the first ever Help for Heroes shop in Uxbridge, raising more than £25,000 for British Forces, was crowned the overall winner of the Local Heroes awards, announced last night.

Hamish McGregor, of Avondale Road, Hayes, was named the Hero of Hillingdon in the competition, run jointly by the Uxbridge Gazette and Leader Series and Uxbridge College, to recognise ordinary people who have overcome adversity or gone beyond the call of duty in the community.

Mr McGregor received a cheque for £750 and a trophy, plus an extra £250 for winning his category, Fabulous Fundraiser, in a gala awards night held at Uxbridge College Hayes Community Campus.

Around 100 people attended the event, the eighth of its kind, including finalists, friends and family, and the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill.

Music was provided by Perry Parsons and the Vyners Swing Band, with catering and hospitality students at the college preparing a buffet for guests.

Mr McGregor was selected from dozens of nominations by readers, who have been putting their heroes forward during the past three months. Other category winners also took home £250, with runners up receiving £50.

The winners were chosen by a judging panel including Uxbridge College principal Larraine Smith, multimedia editorial director of Trinity Mirror Southern – the Gazette's parent company – Lee Hinchcliffe, and the deputy Mayor of Hillingdon, councillor David Yarrow.

Akhtar Jan, 22, took the title of Courageous Citizen, after fleeing his home country of Afghanistan when he was just 16 and working hard to learn English. He is now mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds while studying biomedical science at Queen Mary University with the ambition of becoming a doctor. He is also a Red Cross volunteer.

Martina Collis was named Star Carer after selflessly giving up her job as an art teacher to become a full-time carer to her mother, who has Alzheimers.

Jamie Maguire, eight, scooped the Outstanding Young Person award. He was praised for his amazing, positive attitude after being born with a very serious heart condition and enduring a number of serious operations, causing him to miss long periods of school and having to work very hard to catch up to his classmates. Despite his plight, he never complains and is always smiling.

Daniel Simpson was named Community Champion for his devotion to West Drayton Boys Club/Youth FC. As well as being a football referee, he is also honorary treasurer, under 15s manager and coach, and under sevens manager and coach – all this despite being a young man in his 20s with an active social life and work commitments. He also secured funding for a newly refurbished sports hall, perimeter fencing and the under sevens football kit, and his efforts and vision have been praised for creating a better community sports service for the area.

Full list of winners:

Fabulous Fundraiser

Winner – Hamish McGregor

Runners up – Gerry and Diane Collins; Mac McArtney; Debbie Power

Star Carer

Winner – Martina Collis

Runners up – Jackie Gibbons

Community Champion

Winner – Daniel Simpson

Runners up – Dougie Bodman; Stan Atkin; Janice Andrews,

Outstanding Young Person

Winner – Jamie Maguire

Runners up – Jennie Major; Dhanesh Patel

Courageous Citizen

Winner – Akhtar Jan

Runners Up – Cyril and Becky Haggar

See next week's Gazette out on Wednesday, February 3 for full coverage of the ceremony, interviews with the winners and pictures of the gala night.