EXCEPTIONAL stories of heroic people from the Okehampton area were among those celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony.
The Premier South West awards ceremony honoured people from across the region who were judged to have shown the towering strength of the human spirit.
The prestigious awards, run by BBC Spotlight South West and the Western Morning News, were presented by Noel Edmonds, who lives at Jacobstowe, on a night to remember at St Mellion Golf and Country Club last Friday.
Janet Shilston and her grandson Kieran from Sticklepath were both nominated in separate categories.
Kieran was nominated in the courage category and Janet won the love award ? both were nominated by Dr Paul Nielson.
Janet has cared for Kieran since he fell into a bath of hot water, when aged just 18-months-old, and suffered horrific burns.
Ten-year-old Kieran has already had 40 operations and will continue to have more on the scar tissue until he is fully grown.
There was a further surprise for Janet and Kieran when they met Falklands veteran Simon Weston at the awards ceremony.
Simon and Kieran have spoken on the telephone, but this was the first time they had met. Janet said Simon was ?such an inspiration for Kieran?.
Also collecting an award in the compassion category was Trevor Philpott, the founder of C-FAR, the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation at Highampton.
After retiring from the Royal Marines, Mr Philpott set about establishing a pioneering centre where young offenders are given a chance to change their lives, through an intensive eleven-week course and follow-up mentor support to help gain jobs and accommodation.
Also nominated in the heroism section was Graham Payne, of Jacobstowe-based international rescue charity Rapid-UK.
Graham was co-founder of the organisation which sends dedicated volunteers to assist with rescue work following humanitarian disasters in locations such as Mozambique, Turkey and India.
As well as eleven special awards, each of the 33 people shortlisted for the honours received a framed citation.