British Volunteer Awards: Our winners' day in the spotlight Michael Jackson won for providing sports opportunities to children in East Anglia, but was unable to attend. His wife Helen said: "He is currently with 720 people - kids with special needs and their carers - having Christmas lunch." The next batch of awards was presented by Dr Andrew Hartle, a consultant anaesthetist who came to public attention as a Games Maker during the Olympics. He told the winners: "It's been a real honour for me, quite humbling, to see how much you do." John Roberts took time off from saving lives as a medically trained Community First Responder in the villages of Shropshire to receive his award. Paul Harrison, 77, travelled from Bristol, having spent 30 years running and raising funds for a trampoline club for young people. Matt Boyle also came from Bristol, where he helps children cope with burns injuries similar to ones he suffered. Mark Price, the managing director of Waitrose, presented the next award to Libby Meyer, a 29-year-old from south London who helps Jason, a young man with Asperger's syndrome who used to be afraid to go out. There was applause when she said: "Jason is here today." Avril Coughlan blushed when Mr Price revealed how she protested against a ban on ball games at her estate in east London by organising a team for "old ladies." The community campaigner also put paddling pools and sand into the car park because "a lot of the kids had never seen the beach." Katherine Lee, 34, has been fighting cancer since she was a teenager, but has also been a tireless Girl Guide and Ranger leader in Essex. Lorraine Watson was due to pick up an award for driving a minibus, providing respite care and other good works, but she had broken a hip. Her nominator, Elsie Aubrey, caused laughter as Mr Price read out her achievements, saying: "Keep going. She's a star. Baroness Campbell of Surbiton gave an award to Barbara and David Cox, who bring sick children from Chernobyl to Derbyshire for holidays. Mrs Cox said the £500 would pay for a child to travel from Ukraine next summer. "I am so proud to have won this award," said Ruth Quigley, of Montrose, who lost her father suddenly when she was just 14. She works voluntarily for an organisation that helps parents to record messages for their children, to be played in the event of their death. Mandy Harris of Kent brought some of the children who act as modern-day Wombles with her, picking up litter in East Malling. One young lady said: "It's sad, because the little mice might get stuck in the bottles." General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, was due to present an award to Louisa Bullows of Kent, who has been an inspirational fund-raiser despite battling a brain tumour. She was too poorly, so her place was taken by her husband Darren. His voice cracking with emotion, he said: "This is a wonderful set of people. She would be as proud as I am to be here. Mary Cook, a 68-year-old who works hard for her village in Wiltshire, said after receiving her award: "There is a common thread through this ceremony. We are figureheads. There are an awful lot of volunteers behind each one of us. Carl Eaton came with his wife and daughter from Skelmserdale in Lancashire, where he set up the Skem Men-Aces football club for people with learning disabilities. Vivien Bourne came with members of the club for stroke survivors that she set up in Suffolk, saying, "They are what it's all about," But perhaps the last word should go to Margaret Sale, one of those who helped save the historic Bletchley Park site for the nation, who said: "Volunteering gives you such a good feeling. It's really worth doing. If you've got time to do it, please do. For more pictures from the British Volunteer Awards ceremony, click here