Winners are pride of the community

THE winners of the Evening News' Best of . . . 2010 awards have told how they have been inundated with messages of congratulations from the community.

Categories in the Post Office-sponsored competition included Best Community Contribution, Best Hibs and Hearts Fan, Best Post Office, Best Bar and Best Fish & Chip Shop.

The winners, who were announced at a prize-giving ceremony at the News' offices in Holyrood Road last Tuesday, also hope to inspire others.

Father-of-three Mohammed Liton was announced the winner of the Best Community Contribution award after receiving 3075 votes.

The 45-year-old from Craigmount has raised more than 3000 in less than two years for a number of causes, including the Sick Kids hospital and children's cancer charity Clic Sargent.

He said: "I have had so many phone calls from customers, and everyone is congratulating me saying how happy they are for me that I won it. The staff are really happy and lots of customers are asking about the trophy when they come into the restaurant.

"I think the (concept of the Best of Awards] is really good because it inspires more people to do these things."

Meanwhile, another community stalwart, Andrea Caira, who has owned L'Aurora fish and chip shop in Pathhead since 2006, won the Best Fish & Chip Shop award.

The 30-year-old, originally from Rome but now living in Gorebridge, received 227 votes.

He said: "The phone has just kept ringing and all the people are saying how happy they are for us. Every customer that comes in says congratulations.

"People here are pleased to have a good fish and chip shop like this in their village. It is a small village and everyone here knows each other."

He added: "All the sacrifices and hard work we have put in are being appreciated."

Jambos fanatic Shirley Ruickbie was named Best Hearts Fan in the competition with a total of 187 nominations.

She was not available to collect her prize at the ceremony, and only realised she had won the title after being informed by a work colleague.

The 46-year-old, who lives in Gorgie and has had a season ticket at Tynecastle for around a decade, said: "I work at Hearts' academy and a girl in the kit room said congratulations, and I asked what for. I couldn't believe it.

Other winners included Best Hibs Fan Kelly Tarbet, Best Bar winner Graham Blaikie of the Mercat, and Davidson's Mains Post Office, which was named Best Post Office, to the delight of owner Bill Robertson, 67.