Heroes sought for prestigious awards night

This year's awards will feature a total of nine categories, and for the first time this year we are seeking nominations for Outstanding Bravery.

The Outstanding Bravery Award is open to people who have shown exceptional courage or determination in order to help others, perhaps putting their own life in danger. This could involve helping out in an emergency, saving someone's life or preventing a scene deteriorating into something more dangerous.

For members of the armed forces or emergency services, there is a separate "Local Heroes" category, which is open to all service personnel who demonstrate exceptional courage or determination beyond their normal call of duty. It can relate to a single act or a sustained situation where their actions defied the odds or demanded extraordinary physical or mental strength.

Last year the award was won by Shrewsbury army reservist Ben Taylor, who had been nominated by Councillor Ann Hartley after she learned about how he had saved eight of his comrades during his first tour of duty in Afghanistan ­— despite having been injured himself.

Ben's heroics in 2013 also earned him the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Ben, a rifleman with The Mercian Regiment, plucked his comrades from their vehicle in complete darkness after it overturned during a mission.

Ben, who had worked as a roofer prior to his deployment, had been catapulted out of the 35-ton Mastiff vehicle when it rolled down a steep bank and partially sunk, trapping his fellow soldiers inside.

Despite his own injuries, Ben – who was 21 at the time – repeatedly dived under water to help and guide them to safety.

The former Sundorne School pupil said he didn't think about whether he was risking his own life and could not remember the events.

"I just needed to get them out," he said.

"It was automatic for me. It's brothers and sisters I've served with for four-and-a-half months, I would have saved their lives, they would have saved mine."

Ben said there were two escape hatches on the Mastiff but, because of the way it had gone into the water, they were jammed.

"I just kept diving down and getting them out, he said.

"I would take them back to the surface and they would have to keep a lookout for the insurgents. I then dived back down and got another man. I had no protection, no body armour, nothing."

The rescue effort took approximately 40 minutes but it was only later that Ben started to realise just what he had done.

"I had been back at base for about an hour and I just started shaking," he said.

"I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what but I couldn't stop shaking. It was the shock kicking in."

Because of injuries he suffered to his back, the military cut Ben's deployment short.

"I was gutted to come home," he said.

Other categories include the Carer Award, for those who devote their time to helping others, and the Courage Award for those who have overcome adversity, experienced family tragedy, dealt with a huge challenge or tackled something completely new.

The Learner category recognises people who have overcome adversity to improve themselves, and there is also an Environmental Champion.

Other categories include the People's Champion, for those who have done outstanding work in their community, Good Neighbour and Special Young Person Award.

The overall winner will be chosen from among the other categories.

People have until September 8 to nominate those who they feel deserve special recognition.

Candidates can apply themselves, or have their name put forward by another person, be it a family member, friend, or just someone who wants the good deeds of others to be honoured. It doesn't matter how the stories get to us, as long as we get to hear about them.

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at the Shrewsbury Town's Greenhous Meadow in the autumn.