Skip Nav | Home | Mobile | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Security | Support Us

World

Hidden Article

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Britain's Best 2008 Awards

Derek Brown and Nick Francis | 21.05.2008 19:56 | Anti-militarism | Culture | Terror War | London | World

The Prime Minister met the wounded Afghanistan serviceman as he presented The Sun Global Recognition Award to our Armed Forces at Britain’s Best 2008 Awards.

Shake and awe ... PM Brown congratulates Martyn Compton as Ben McBean looks on
Shake and awe ... PM Brown congratulates Martyn Compton as Ben McBean looks on

Top campaigner ... Jeremy Gilley with Jude Law
Top campaigner ... Jeremy Gilley with Jude Law

Proud ... Boris Johnson and Tom Daley
Proud ... Boris Johnson and Tom Daley


GORDON Brown shakes hands with hero soldier Martyn Compton at a glittering
Sun-backed awards ceremony last night.

The Prime Minister met the wounded Afghanistan serviceman as he presented
The Sun Global Recognition Award to our Armed Forces at Britain's Best 2008
Awards.

A host of celebrities turned out to honour the awe-inspiring bravery of our
Army, Navy and RAF heroes like Martyn, 24, for their efforts in far-flung
trouble zones like Afghanistan and Iraq.

[SNN19082GBK_489636a.jpg]

Mr Brown also met wounded Afghanistan hero Ben McBean, 21.

He said: "Thanks to The Sun and ITV for this award because it is vital we
promote the talent this country has. We have so much to be proud of in
Britain and I'm honoured to be here tonight among such inspiring characters.

"Troops like Ben McBean remind us of the courage and bravery that our forces
have, and despite everything they are so upbeat and determined to get on
with things. It's very humbling meeting those chaps, I could talk to them
all night.

"I hope to see many more occasions like this so that we keep in mind the
people that make Britain Great."

Brave Ben and Martyn accepted the award on behalf of the Armed Forces, who
were chosen for the gong by Sun editor Rebekah Wade.

Ben was hailed "the real hero" of the Afghan conflict by Prince Harry after
losing two limbs in fighting.

He said: "I love the fact that newspapers like The Sun are making sure
troops are getting the thanks and appreciation they deserve. This award was
on behalf of all the lads still out there or who didn't make it."

Martyn, whom Prince William has singled out in the past, suffered appalling
burns to 70 per cent of his body when the Taliban struck his vehicle in
2006.

His comrades died and his condition was so severe that his uniform was
melted to his body. Last night his proud fiancee Michelle tearfully
applauded from the audience. They are to wed this year.

The heroes were joined by comrades from the Household Cavalry Regiment, 40
Commando Royal Marines and RAF.

Their honour -- which also reflected the Forces' work in peacekeeping and
disaster relief -- crowned a magnificent evening which also saw a galaxy of
stars proudly clutching their Britain's Best 2008 awards.

[SNN1908GX3_489643a.jpg]

Chef Gordon Ramsay, who arrived at the bash on London's South Bank with wife
Tana, won the Television Award for shows like the F Word and Ramsay's
Kitchen Nightmares after a glowing tribute from close pal Victoria Beckham.

F1 ace Lewis Hamilton won the Sport Award and gave his thanks via a
videolink. Dad Antony collected the 23-year-old's honour on his behalf.

Hollywood actor Jude Law heaped praise on Campaigner of The Year Jeremy
Gilley, whose Peace One Day organisation provides help around the world.

BAFTA-winning Atonement star James McAvoy jetted in from Berlin to accept
his Film Award.

X Factor winner Leona Lewis was beamed live from the US to pass on her
thanks for the Music Award.

And OC star Mischa Barton presented the Business Award to British fashion
house Marchesa.

London mayor Boris Johnson handed over the Walkers Home Grown New Talent
Award to diving wonderkid Tom Daley.

Tom's award was decided by the votes of Sun readers. At just 13 he has been
picked to represent Britain at this year's Olympics in China.

He said: "I'm so happy to win and it was great that I was voted for by so
many Sun readers." Mr Johnson said: "This boy is an inspiration -- the best
of the best."

The PM, accompanied by wife Sarah, said: "What a remarkable young man. I
can't wait to see how he gets on in Beijing. These are the young guys we
should be investing in -- they are the future."

Revered architect Lord Norman Foster won the Arts Award for his
ground-breaking designs. Other stars to walk down the red carpet included
Page 3 beauty Keeley Hazell in a blue Marc Jacobs dress.

Also at the bash was Bionic Woman star Michelle Ryan -- who played Zoe
Slater in EastEnders. She dazzled in a black dress that showed off her
svelte figure.

She was joined by TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, comedian Patrick Kielty,
socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

Davina McCall, Abi Titmuss, Damon Hill, Bonnie Langford, Sharon Marshall and
rising 18-year-old golf star Henni Zuel -- nominated for the Walkers Home
Grown Talent Award.

ITV's Britain's Best is held in association with The Sun and sponsored by
Walkers. It pays tribute to high-achieving Britons in various fields and
will be aired on TV this Friday.

The majority of honours were chosen by a panel including Lord Seb Coe, M&S
boss Stuart Rose and ex England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward.

The event was hosted by Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan.

Derek Brown and Nick Francis
- e-mail: d.brown@the-sun.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1179369.ece

Publish

Publish your news

Do you need help with publishing?

/regional publish include --> /regional search include -->

World Topics

Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

Server Appeal Radio Page Video Page Indymedia Cinema Offline Newsheet

secure Encrypted Page

You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.

If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech