The Pride of Reading Awards
Why, when and where – early days
Back in 2004 a group of local people from Reading Post, Reading Borough Council, Reading Chamber of Commerce and Broad St Mall decided to organise the first Pride of Reading Awards. The Awards Lunch and presentations took place at the Reading Renaissance Hotel, Reading boy Chris Tarrant hosted and ex Ashmead pupil Ricky Gervais sent all the guests a welcome message via video. The first award winners included – Dee Park Community Regeneration Action Group (Community Action Award), Kiren Sharma (Entrepreneur of the Year) and Kyocera Mita (Responsible Business Award).
Pride of Reading Awards at Renaissance Hotel in 2004
Over the next four years the event grew and in 2008, when the Renaissance Hotel became too small moved to the Crowne Plaza. In 2012 again due to the growing number of guests the Pride of Reading Awards moved to the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre (now Reading FC Conference Centre and Events, Select Car Leasing Stadium). Chris Tarrant has hosted all the Awards Ceremonies, over this time the Pride of Reading Awards have donated over £45,000 to Chris’s chosen charities.
The Pride of Reading Awards at the Crowne Plaza in 2008
Who – the people that make the Awards happen
Presenters over the years have included Ben Rice, Robert Kenny, Louise Lewis, Ben Moore, Simon Thomas, Mel Bloor and Matt Allwright all from local Radio and TV.
Pride of Reading Awards presenters
The Pride of Reading Awards have touched the lives of many people, whether a winner, nominator, guest, sponsor, performer or one of the many people involved in the organisation of the event.
Each year the Pride of Reading Awards Committee have an overview of the planning and production of the Pride of Reading Awards and are joined on the day of the event by the event crew.
Just a few of the Pride of Reading Awards 2022 team
Over the years the Pride of Reading Awards themes have included – Centenary of WW1 – Growth and Success of Reading – Reading’s Year of Culture – Celebrating technology and innovation – Love where you Live – Frontline Heroes.
Pride of Reading Awards themes shown on the front covers of our event programmes
Patrons of the Pride of Reading Awards
Sir John Madejski OBE – Pride of Reading Special Achievement Award 2006
Danyl Johnson – Pride of Reading Community Champion 2015
Canon Brian Shenton – former Pride of Reading Judge
