The drizzly summer weather failed to dampen the spirits of the 250 people who crammed into the Calder Street venue last night.
From primary children in school uniforms to Girls' Brigade leaders who have chalked up nine decades of inspiring youngsters, the unsung heroes who make the South East tick were honoured.
It was the third event of five we're hosting across the city in the Glasgow Community Champion Awards 2012.
The setting may not be as grand as Holyroodhouse, where Castlemilk housing activist Anna Stuart will collect her MBE next Tuesday, but just being among the Health and Wellbeing award winners of Castlemilk Craft Cafe meant a royal feeling of pride.
Great-gran Anna, 71, the vice-chairwoman of Cassiltoun Housing Association, said: "To me, this is great because this is all about your own peers.
"It's great to get an MBE, but that's for Castlemilk, that isn't just for me."
The Evening Times has staged similar events at Springburn and Maryhill community fire stations.
And the civic pride that radiated from the neighbourhood firecrackers living or working in the area stretching from the Greater Gorbals to Carmunnock was no different.
The 25 finalists, whittled down to a shortlist by a judging panel made up of the awards partners, began arriving with members of the local community from 6pm.
Laurieston housing activist and Senior award runner-up Dorothy Denham attended with good friend and 2009 Individual award winner Blanche Tinney.
Dorothy, who is described as the "eyes and ears" of her neighbourhood, said: "I like to see people getting a fair deal, live in a decent area and keep their area nice.
"I like to help those less fortunate than ourselves."
As the ceremony got under way, cheering, laughter, applause and foot-stomping accompanied each of the neighbourhood stars as they stepped onto the stage.
It proved a bumper night for Castlemilk projects and organisations.
Castlemilk High School teacher Stuart Munro picked up the Individual trophy, while John Gillies and Charles Lang, of S5 and S6 at the school respectively, were runners-up in the Young category.
John Gillies, 15, who is a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: "Mr Munro does fantastic work and everybody knows that.
"He's so engaging with young people. It's about time that he got an award for what he does."
Community gardener Emma Iller, 38, paid tribute to the army of volunteers who work around the clock on Urban Roots environmental projects and events – and who received a runner-up certificate in the Team category.
She said: "I nominated the volunteers because I've been amazed at how much time they put in.
"I work part-time and I'd say some of them are putting in more hours than I am!
"They're just an amazing bunch. The whole thing wouldn't work without them."
Public Service runner-up Irene Wallace goes well above and beyond the call of duty in her role as a pupil support assistant at St Bride's Primary in Govanhill.
The 59-year-old, who has worked at the school for 12 years, has bought uniforms and Christmas presents for disadvantaged students, many of whom speak English as a second language.
Irene said: "It's nice just to see their faces.
"It's giving them something extra, and something that they probably wouldn't ever have."
Sport finalists D'Dancers skipped to the stage to collect their certificate.
Founder Denise Wallace, 36, has taken the Castlemilk troupe all over the UK in the last 17 years.
She said: "On top of all their other achievements, this is brilliant.
"Dancing keeps them off the streets because they do it four times a week. It's seriously competitive."
Among the dozens of fire officer uniforms out in force last night was Public Service runner-up Brian McCracken.
The 57-year-old from Giffnock, who now specialises in fire safety training, said he was moved by returning to the station where he served for 21 years.
He said: "I didn't expect this, but it's an absolute privilege to be recognised."
The ceremony was brought to a close by the city's new Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, who will next week welcome the Queen to Glasgow.
She said of the awards campaign: "It has been going now for four years and it's just getting better and better and better.
"I don't think I could have picked who the winners would be and I'm glad that it wasn't my task to do that. They were all worthy winners."
The eight winners – together with the winners from four other events held across the city – will be invited to the Grand Final at the City Chambers in December.
maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk
