The world is a much poorer place without Debbie Smith, but her legacy lives on in the fight against this terrible disease.

Who’s Who 2010

Editor DEBBIE DAVIES chooses the 12 people who she thinks have been inspirational during the last 12 months.

Eddie Holden

MOST of our regular Ely Standard readers will be familiar with Eddie. He is the newspaper’s most prolific letter-writer, in fact, most weeks we receive two, sometimes even three letters from him. Eddie may ruffle a few feathers from time to time, but he cares passionately about the city and ensures controversial issues that affect the future infrastructure of Ely are placed firmly in the public domain.

Callum Fairhurst

CALLUM is recognised for his fund-raising efforts for the Clic Sargent charity throughout 2010, which to date stands at �4,000. An amazingly tenacious individual who never fails to impress those around him with his cheerfulness and entrepreneurial spirit. Wise beyond his years with that caring Fairhurst family trait that is truly inspirational.

Brian Ashton

BRIAN took up the role of Ely mayor in May. He also represents Ely East as a district councillor and this is his second stint in the civic position. Brian’s fund-raising focus for the year is volunteering and what better way to celebrate and represent the city than reward all those people who make a difference by giving up their own time to help others. Brian is a wonderful ambassador for the city. A man of integrity who has shown beyond doubt that, to misquote Rudyard Kipling, that he can keep his head when all about him are losing theirs.

The Team at ADec

IT was too difficult to pick out any one member of the team at ADeC as together they provide a fighting force for the arts in East Cambridgeshire. It is sometimes easy to dismiss the arts, especially when it comes to the allocation of funding and that’s really why this team of people should be recognised. Whenever the funding axe is wielded, the arts are usually top of the list and Jane Wilson, Caroline Cawley, Audrey Pam and Nathan Jones have worked hard to raise the profile of the work they do. They have been sensible enough to compromise in order to survive, but continually inspire, cajole and think outside the funding box to make sure future generations have access to a local cinema, art galleries, music lessons and a myriad of other services that East Cambs would be poorer without.

Tracey Harding

TRACEY is team leader for tourism and town centre manager for Ely. I often bump into Tracey at large events and rather than running around barking orders, she always appears calm and serene with a ready smile. Oliver Cromwell House, which comes under her remit, was voted the region’s best tourist attraction in 2010 for the second year running this year and Tracey’s dedication and commitment to making the city an interesting and vibrant place to visit and live is worthy of mention.

Gerald Rolf

GERALD runs and organises the annual Ely Horticultural Show. The event has become a fixture in the Ely calendar and is always well attended. The event, now in its 84th year, attracts thousands of visitors to the Paradise Centre, and provides a colourful spectacle and some wonderful photographs of giant vegetables and beautiful flowers during the course of the weekend. But like all such events it takes a massive amount of organisation and Gerald, who is secretary of the horticultural society, works incredibly hard for months in advance to make sure the green-fingered efforts of the community are rewarded and recognised.

Geoff Griggs

GEOFF Griggs is a true stalwart of the Soham community. Someone who cares passionately about the people and the fabric of the place where he lives. As a keen fund-raiser and president of the town’s rotary club he represents Soham with pride, but he also keeps a watchful eye on anyone who seeks to bring about change without firstly consulting and considering local people’s wishes.

Teresa Lloyd

PEOPLE have often asked me over the years about the famous people I have interviewed, and although I have one or two funny stories I am always keen to point out that the people who have impressed and intrigued me the most have been the unassuming, ‘ordinary’ folk who do extraordinary things. Teresa Lloyd is one of those people. Unassuming, but determined and tenacious and prepared to stand up and be counted. Teresa is a 46-year-old mother-of-three who has MS. She is determined to undergo a radical surgical procedure being pioneered by an Italian doctor, but it is unavailable on the NHS and so she is having to fund the treatment herself and raise awareness about the benefits with the might of the NHS bearing down on her. I wish her well. I know she is exhausted, but she continues to fight for her right to choose what happens to her body and the right of others to have enough information to make informed choices.

Private Robert Hayes

ROBERT Hayes entered the record books at the start of 2010 for all the wrong reasons. On January 3, the 19-year-old from Burwell became the first fatality of the year after he died in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan. Private Hayes was on routine patrol with comrades from the Royal Anglian Regiment in the Nad e-Ali area of Helmand Province when he was hit by an IED device.

Debbie Smith

DEBBIE Smith lost her battle against breast cancer in October, 2010. Debbie, aged 44 and the mother of two children, founded the Best Boob Forward charity walk held in Sutton in 2006. During the four years before her death she managed to raise �10,000 for Breast Cancer Care. The world is a much poorer place without Debbie Smith, but her legacy lives on in the fight against this terrible disease.

Monica Crane

MONICA Crane was a child migrant who was shipped off to Australia during the 1950s for a ‘better life’. She was subsequently mistreated and physically abused by some of those tasked to care for her. After years of campaigning to have the issue recognised, Monica, and other victims, received an apology in February from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian PM Kevin Rudd. Monica and others are now fighting for compensation from the two governments.

Greg Harlow

BOWLER Greg Harlow achieved a life-long dream in January when he was crowned World Indoor Bowls Champion.

The 41-year-old beat Stewart Anderson 9-8, 10-3 in a gripping final at the Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk and capped the win with his trademark celebratory cartwheel along the green.

In an excellent year for the Ely bowler, he also helped his club to victory in the Egham Trophy and received special recognition for his talents from the City of Ely Council in November.