The noise levels prompted Lord Provost Bob Winter to comment: “It is the best I have heard all year.”

More than 200 people from neighbourhoods stretching from Langside and Mount Florida in the north to Castlemilk and Carmunnock in the south gathered to pay tribute to unsung community heroes.

From pupils in school ties, through police officers, to housing activists clocking up decades of community action, the finalists spanned many generations and interests.

All 19 finalists across six categories took to the stage to collect runner-up certificates or those prized glass trophies in the eighth stage of the second season of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

For Individual finalist Robert Mitchell, his moving nomination from Kirkriggs School’s Boccia club was reward enough.

The 46-year-old from Castlemilk, who juggles caring for his wife with acting as a volunteer driver and trainer, said: “It’s more than I imagined. I just do something that I like and here we are.

“I work with special needs kids and the enjoyment I get out of that is fantastic -- the kids are great.”

If the noise levels for the Young Award category were an accurate barometer, then the kids of the South East are more than alright.

All four finalists were declared worthy of the trophy.

Brave six-year-old Jenny Cook has overcome major health problems to encourage fellow pupils at Carmunnock Primary to raise more than £6000 for the Yorkhill Children’s Foundation.

The P2 pupil, who collected a finalist certificate alongside classmates, said: “I like to help other children who are not well, so they can be up an on their feet and play.”

Camera flashes heralded the Young category, as family and friends pushed forward to capture the finalists picking up their certificates.

Mum-of-three Sheena Patrick, 41, from Croftfoot, has found that daughter Calista, 10, is taking her work with Croftfoot Primary Pupil Council and Green Team home with her.

She said: “She gets us into trouble if we go to put something in the bin that shouldn’t be there.”

A chorus of support accompanied the two trips to the stage for Fiona McGovern of Ardenglen Housing Association, who picked up the Public Service Individual prize and was a member of the Public Service Team award-winners, Tormusk Neighbourhood Reassurance Forum.

With Evening Times editor Tony Carlin joking that she had “more awards than Kate Winslet”, her parents Jan and Hugh McIntyre, from Cambuslang, joined in the tributes, saying: “We’re very proud. She works very, very hard.”

Stuart Munro, an employability officer in Castlemilk, wasn’t able to pick up his runner-up certificate in the Public Service Individual category as he is in Uganda with a group of eight pupils from Castlemilk High School, who are extending and renovating a primary school.

Castlemilk High’s headteacher Brian McAlinden said: “Stuart is a great role model for young people -- they love him and he can relate to anybody and everybody. I’m delighted he’s a finalist.”

The community centre began filling up long before the official start, as visitors and nominees chatted over drinks and nibbles.

The three-strong staff of the venue were shortlisted in the Public Service Team category -- and centre manager David McBride and he and his staff certainly lived up to their nomination by going above and beyond the call of duty.

The 46-year-old said: “We’re Jacks of all trades -- we turn our hands to everything.

“We’re all Castlemilk lads and we all came to the centre as kids as well. It has come full circle.”

Elsewhere in the hall, Evening Times Community News Editor Helen Smith demonstrated our 80 dedicated community websites, seven of which cover the Langside and Linn area.

Local resident Maureen Cope, 63, on the committee of Team finalist Castlemilk Family Day Group, which fundraises all year-round to host the free event, has found respite in her community work, now that she’s in remission from cancer.

She said: “That’s what keeps me going, doing this for the community. You can’t take out and not put back in.”

The curtain fell on the ceremony with an energetic performance from the Karen Burns School of Dancing.

Burnside mum-of-two Pauline McElwaine, 36, whose daughter Varrie was among the ten performers, said: “It’s great for the kids to let them be part of something else -- they’re used to dancing for competition, so this is something different.”

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue’s deputy chief officer Eileen Baird was blown away by the atmosphere at her first Community Champions ceremony.

She said: “When you hear the levels of community spirit, it’s really heart-warming.

“The enthusiasm of people cheering made it a great event and long may it continue.”