In the second part of our series focusing on south east Glasgow, MAUREEN ELLIS casts the spotlight on tomorrow's Community Champion awards AROUND 200 people are expected to pack in to Langside Hall tonight to honour the South East nominees and winners in the Evening Times sponsored Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

In the second part of our series focusing on south east Glasgow, MAUREEN ELLIS casts the spotlight on tomorrow's Community Champion awards

AROUND 200 people are expected to pack in to Langside Hall tonight to honour the South East nominees and winners in the Evening Times sponsored Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free event recognising the individuals and organisations who make Langside and Linn such great places to live and work.

And today we can reveal the 18 shortlisted nominees across six categories chosen from a field of over 50 nominations.

Langside Councillor Archie Graham said: "There are several local communities that people identify with in this area, but there is a strong sense of South Side pride.

"I think there will be a tremendous amount of excitement.

"I would expect people to be talking to each other about the different projects and programmes."

The ceremony, which opens its doors at 6pm, is a chance for readers to mingle with nominees and chat to representatives of the awards partners - Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and the Evening Times.

Langside Hall, built in 1856, once stood on Queen Street as the headquarters of the National Bank of Scotland, but was rebuilt in the southern edge of Queen's Park in 1901.

The event is the eighth of 10 hosted around the city as part of the community campaign.

All 60 winners will be invited to a gala final held at the City Chambers in October, where the overall Community Champions will be crowned.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Our neighbourhoods would be poorer places without community activists. But for PATRICIA COCKBURN, campaigning for her neighbours became a therapy after the sudden death of her only son, Scott, aged 36, from an epileptic seizure.

Patricia, 62, who is chair of Simshill and Old Cathcart Community Council, said: "We needed each other. They needed a secretary and I needed something to do."

The Simshill resident, a retired bank secretary, now campaigns on transport, environmental and anti-social behaviour issues.

Former Deputy Lord Provost CHRISTINE DEVINE was a member of the council for almost 20 years. She helped to organise the Castlemilk Family Day, and served on the boards of the Birgidale Complex, Lost Lives and North View Housing Association.

The legacy of CHARLIE BOYCE lives on after his death in November 2008, aged 60. A police officer for 30 years, he championed local causes as a councillor with Mount Florida Community Council and chaired the first school board at Holyrood Secondary.

TEAM AWARD

A once derelict 18th century stable block has been transformed thanks to the CASSILTOUN TRUST.

Set up in 2000, it campaigned to save the Castlemilk ruin from demolition, securing £4.2million for renovation into a pre-five nursery for 30 children, training and meeting facilities, a children's orchard, and the base of Cassiltoun Housing Association.

Age isn't an issue at CASTLEMILK PENSIONERS ACTION CENTRE - it promotes itself as a youth club' for the over-60s, so that elderly residents can enjoy social activities, nutritional food, educational excursions and friendships.

The work of WAVES (Women Against Violent Environments) was founded eight years ago by local women concerned about domestic abuse. They meet once a week to provide support for its 20 members and their families.

PUBLIC SERVICE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

The work of Cathcart Old Parish Church minister REV NEIL GALBRAITH's Glasgow: The Caring City charity extends to 55 countries.

The 56-year-old is Chaplain of Strathclyde Police, King's Park Secondary School, and is behind the school citizenship course Give A Kid A Goal, which holds its graduation ceremony for over 100 pupils this evening. See this Saturday's Evening Times for a special to mark 10 years of the charity.

Victoria Infirmary staff nurse CATH CHRISTIE, 50, is renowned for the caring attitude she has perfected in her 31 years of service, and now, after studying at Caledonian University, she is qualified to perform minor surgical operations.

The residents of Myrtle Park flats, just off Aitkenhead Road, have a friend and an on-call handyman in their concierge WILLIAM LAVERY.

Bill to his pals, he provides security and companionship - and can always be called upon for a spot of wallpapering, change a lightbulb, wash windows or move furniture for less mobile residents.

The 63-year-old will retire next year.

PUBLIC SERVICE TEAM AWARD

Castlemilk care centre COJAC (Caring Operations Joint Action Council) is marking its 25th year of helping around 150 members of the disabled community. Its 14 staff and ten volunteers provide a social hub, play activities and excursions for members aged from five-years-old to over 80.

The dedication of CASTLEMILK HIGH SCHOOL staff was recognised when the school received six "excellent" ratings in a HM Inspectorate of Education report - the most recorded by any school in Glasgow and the second-highest rating ever recorded.

Headteacher Brian McAlinden is to be given a CBE for his services to education.

CASTLEMILK STRESS CENTRE delivers a flexible range of stress management services.

Established 15 years ago, its 13 staff offer therapies such as aromatherapy, reflexology and reiki.

NEIGHBOUR AWARD

Retired auxiliary nurse PATSY BEATON has lived in Castlemilk for all but two of her 56 years.

She chairs Craigdale Housing Association, acts as a Tenant Assessor for The Scottish Housing Regulator, plus organises fundraising and anti-sectarian activities in primary schools.

TRICIA McCONALOGUE has already featured in the Community Champion Awards - in her paid role with the Bridging The Gap project in the Gorbals.

A Castlemilk resident for around 25 years, the mum-of-three offers support to asylum seekers, takes a neighbour with special needs for a day out every Saturday, is chair of the Poverty Truth Commission, and volunteered in the past at Castlemilk Drugs Project.

Friends of Linn Park chairperson ALISON DRUMMOND was instrumental in securing a grant of £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to improve the park.

The 46-year-old health and safety officer organises clean-ups of the park and River Cart.

YOUNG COMMUNITY CHAMPION

The PRIMARY SEVEN class of Mount Florida Primary School organised Flofest earlier this month, a multi-cultural event that brought together schools and groups.

THE D-TEAM meanwhile is a group of eight environmentally-minded P6 pupils from Castleton and St Bartholomew's primary schools in Castlemilk.

In the style of 80s TV series The A Team, the pupils respond to calls about litter issues and hatch a plan to solve them.

Castlemilk High is celebrating a Community Champions double with its team of budding performers making the Young category shortlist.

THE TALENT PRODUCERS - Jade Brooks, Sarah Jack, Deborah Reynolds and Nicole Winterbottom - stage an annual Talent Show to raise money for Children in Need.