The FJones Initiative held its annual awards ceremony at a packed Maesgwyn Hall early last month.
Wrexham Lager Beer Company Ltd and FJones Food Services founded the project around three years ago and named it in honour of their late grandfather Fred Jones, who ran Jones’ Fish and Chips, originally established in 1911!
The Initiative highlights local people, businesses and organisations in Wrexham and runs a monthly Wrexham Recognition Awards Competition. They also work with Careers Wales, Coleg Cambria, Hope House Children’s Services and Nightingale House Hospice.
In 2021, they pitched the idea of running a Wrexham Recognition Awards competition for local businesses. Lot 11, The Bank Wine Bar and Bistro, and The Fat Boar were the first businesses to sign up. These companies provide voucher prizes alongside a ￡100 cash prize for each monthly winner.
Joining them this year, Coca-Cola, Rossett Hall Hotel and Wrexham AFC also gave generously towards the evening’s awards. Vimto Soft Drinks, Martin Rees Jewellers, The Lemon Tree Hotel, The Pant Yr Ochan, and Regent House of Flowers also donated prizes.
Presenters Sian Lloyd and Humphrey Ker
They were also absolutely delighted to welcome back Sian Lloyd and Humphrey Ker as presenters. Humphrey is a British actor, writer, comedian, and Executive Director of Wrexham AFC. He has also appeared as a guest on various BBC and Radio shows and as a panellist on Have I Got News for You and Eight Out Of Ten Cats.
Sian is an experienced journalist, presenter, and broadcaster and a proud Wrexhamite. She grew up in Wrexham in the 1970s and 1980s, attending Ysgol Bryn Offa, now Ysgol Clywedog.
The Maesgwyn Hall served a sumptuous three-course dinner. F Jones Food Services and the Wrexham Lager Beer Company Ltd provided complimentary welcome drinks and wine.
Golden Envelope winner Jessica Whalley serenaded attendees as they walked into the restaurant area. Other notable winners on the night were Kerry Evans, Wrexham AFC Disability Liason Officer, artist Liam Stokes- Massey, poet Evrah Rose, pole vaulter Thomas Walley and the Declan Swans.
Some unsung heroes also won the premier prize. Among them Sam Harris, who organises Wrexham Feast, 14-year-old ballet dancer Alissa Paddock and Wrexham African Community Market founder Omonigho Idegun.
I felt very honoured to have been a part of the evening, and I’d like to give a big thank-you to Sharon and Jon Roberts for organising the event and Sian Lloyd and Humphrey Ker for presenting the awards so wonderfully.
Alissa and her parents, Amy Pritchard and partner, and Sian Boffey and Suzie Allcock of Therapy Stars Foundation also deserve a mention for putting up with us at their table!
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