The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
My People Of The Year ( Potys)
What a year it has been for this fair city and for its many inhabitants and
I thought it only fitting to celebrate some of the more notable achievements, with our first, annual, POTY awards.
One story more than any other has dominated the headlines this year, like a lollipop lady outside the school gates, it has just refused to go away – care home closures.
Despite petitions, consultations and demonstrations, the council decided to close the last two remaining care homes they operate.
With that decision in mind, the “Larry Grayson shut that door award,” goes to Mr Terry Rich and councillor Wayne Fitzgerald.
They will share the first prize of a year’s subscription to Care Bear magazine and six months supply of meals on wheels( it was going to be twelve months, but it might not last that long).
The “ACDC Highway to Hell award”, for road of the year, was a close contest with the A14 and just about every parkway in the city staking a valid claim. In the end the POTY went to a thoroughfare that has been closed more than it has been open– the A1101 Wash Road at Welney.
Elsewhere, Fenland District Council’s planning committee and Peterborough councillor, Sheila Scott, were the only nominees for the “Hannibal Smith, I love it when a plan comes together award.”
Unfortunately, there is only one POTY, not two and I have made a final decision which I will not be changing. The winner is Sheila, sorry, Fenland, oh alright, both of you.
At Posh, trophies, like points, have been a bit thin on the ground this season, although some of the late night celebrations have been quite impressive. So it’s with great pleasure that I announce Gabby Zakuani as the winner of the “I survived a night out with Nat Mendez Lang award.” The POTY will be presented to manager Darren Ferguson accompanied by some beads and a slice of Tyrone Barnet humble pie.
The management at Peter-borough City Hospital just miss out on a POTY, but do receive some free maths lessons from my eight year old daughter and the contents of her piggy bank, whilst our have a go hero MP Stewart Jackson is recognised for his commitment to fighting crime with a free night out in Millfield and a kebab from Zorba’s on the way home.
We now move on to our final, very special award, which is sponsored by Tomorrow` s World and catering firm– Pie In The Sky.
It’s in recognition of those who dare to dream, individuals who come up with solutions to problems that people didn’t even realise existed and who drive them through, whatever the obstacles and cost.
Therefore the “O Solar Mio” POTY, sponsored by just one Cornetto, goes to council leader Marco Cereste, for his vision of a completely fenced off New borough and a sustainable energy future for all.
He walks away with nine farms, twenty one tractors, fourteen dogs, any number of livelihoods and some ill fit-ting dungarees.
Congratulations one and all on your POTY success and here’s to another great year in 2013!