Hi Everyone,
First of all I would like to say thanks for getting involved in this, and to everyone who nominated, supported and got in touch throughout the whole project. me and CHAIR are very grateful for your input.
Also all of the people who have been nominated but not chosen… DO NOT BE DISAPPOINTED – You are all doing amazing things and there is a bloody good reason why you were nominated in the first place! The brief was to do with culture specifically so some people’s reasons fell just outside of this.
Judges Tom Whitley and Mike Devoy helped me decide on the people to photograph for the next stage. It was an extremely long and hard fought process to create the list and I think we’ve been as fair as we can be as three people. BUT… We were all really disappointed we could think of so many more people who SHOULD have been nominated – but weren’t!
Anyway here are the choices of Chester’s finest in terms of moving us forward culturally and making the city a more interesting and contemporary place.
THANKS
Sam & CHAIR
THE LIST AS FOLLOWS
| Shitchester | Support of a huge range of people, humour, Journalism and highlighting great things about the city daily. |
| Neil Nez Kendal | Performance and arts, bringing in artists and “cabaret visionary” (in a big way) |
| David Redpath-Smith, Helen Pickin-Jones, Warren Allmark | PRIDE it had to be in here without a doubt… an amazing event! |
| Martin Ellis | Having courage to open different and important venues over the years for Chester’s subculture to flourish |
| Katie Lyttle | Chester food assembly, An extremely forward thinking endeavour! |
| Alice Eliott | Good for nothing Chester, encouraging people to give time JUST to help the cultural scene and others |
| Gary Usher (sticky Walnut) | Being independent. Pushing the quality of food in the city higher and being incredibly amusing about it |
| Tom Hughes (Chef’s Table) | Having extremely high standards and forward thinking business and foodwise and truly supporting local producers |
| Jez Horril (Telfords Warehouse) | 20 years plus of service to Chester’s music scence through his venue |
| Graffitti Dave | An important character behind the scenes. Dave has done great things and been a great mentor for a good many of Chesters’ Youth |
| Matt Baker | An amazing character that the city could not do without, bringing theatre to new places |
| Russel Kirk | Summer and winter watch parades frontman and organiser |
| Kristine Szulick | For Chester Giants, a unique and continuing tradition |
| Andy Foster | architect and behind the scenes forward thinker in constant support of Chester’s culture |
| Thor Brown | for being an extremely active and treasured member of Chester’s music scene |
| Mark Jones and Stuart Stevenson | Brook Street festival organisers, their event is inspirational and triggers a huge amount of creative thought citywide |
| Adam Walton | DJ and huge supporter of local talent within the music scene. |
| Steven Bowness | An important character and forward thinker running MLTC tattoos with real drive to create and add to the city’s alternative culture |
| Jono Robertson | Frontman of The Suns and extremely well known and loved character around the city. |
| Mark Williams | Supporting many causes citywide and Fringe festival |
NOMINATED in no order … sorry if we missed anyone
| Kate Northcott | Charity campaign work |
| Simon Wood | working with the homeless |
| Mr Ansonia | Christleton football Club |
| Gordon Vickers | Entrepreneur, mill hotel |
| Peter Lewis | Ch1 Bid |
| Izzy Cheshire | Support of Business |
| Jo Talbot | Tattoo artist |
| Hannah Wehbeh | Artist |
| David Woods | Cheshire West Voluntary Arts |
| Helen Ellis | All saints hoole community work |
| WhatsupChester Lucien And Lady Agnes | Social media services to community |
| Matt Bryan | Frackfree upton |
| Sue Mason | Hoole Christmas Lights |
| Paula Norris | Hoole Community work |
| Chris Sutton | Lache FM |
| Vicky Shearn | Anti Fracking and critical mass bike ride organiser |
| Jayne (Ashton Hayes) | Community work with elderly |
| Bex Raven | Funky aardvarks, Support of emerging artists |
| Dan Schott | Music journalism and supporting local music |
| Dave Cunningham | Chester Ukelele Orchestra |
| Me and Deboe | Very-hard-working and talented local musicians |
| Dave ‘Maestro’ Gardener | Karumba Samba and Deesign Choir |
| Andy Hignett | Vegan videos and open mic regular |
| Ashley Faith | another very-hard-working talented local Musician |
| Steph Brocken | Minerva arts youth theatre and forward thinker |
| Rebecca Sowray | Creative writing and Chester Microplays |
| Ed White (Jaunty Goat) | independent business pushing quality above image |
| Kev Brackenbury | Edens Greengrocer in Handbridge, great character and lovely bloke |
| Niki Davies | Chester Health |
| Nikki Pinder | Talented Chester artist and Illustrator |