Injured soldier named Man of Year

Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson helps wounded comrades

A paratrooper who suffered terrible injuries in Afghanistan has been named Yorkshire Man of the Year.

Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, lost both legs and suffered head injuries in a landmine blast in 2006.

He received his accolade at the 21st annual Yorkshire Awards on Friday.

The Yorkshire Awards were set up to recognise "those who have had an impact on Yorkshire and its people, demonstrating their affection for, and commitment to, the county".

Despite facing his own battle to recover from his appalling injuries, Lance Bombardier Parkinson now devotes much of his time to supporting injured comrades.

His mother Diane Dernie, who has campaigned for higher compensation payments for wounded personnel, said: "A big part of what Ben does now is work for other wounded.

"If that is Ben's life for now and for some time then that doesn't seem like a bad thing."

WATCH VIDEO OF YORKSHIRE AWARDS WINNERS Ben Parkinson Kimberley Walsh Jessica Ennis Simon Beaufoy Balbir Panesar Val Lepadatl Mamas and Papas

Reacting to her son's award, Mrs Dernie said: "We were proud of him before and of the life he had chosen. Nothing's happened that makes us less proud now."

Woman of the Year Kimberley Walsh has been recognised not only for her professional success but also for her role as celebrity ambassador for the Breast Cancer Haven charity, which has a branch in Leeds.

Accepting her award, the Bradford singer said: "How I got involved in the Breast Cancer Haven was my old dance teacher suffered from breast cancer.

"To think that I will always be remembered in some part of history as being a successful Yorkshirewoman is a big compliment and it means a lot to me.

"To finally get where you want to be is a big achievement and it does feel good and the fact that I'm from Bradford just makes it better."

The Sporting Achievement award went to Jessica Ennis, from Sheffield, who secured Britain's first ever heptathlon gold medal at the Athletics World Championships in Berlin in August.

Kimberley Walsh and her former dance teacher Deana Morgan in Leeds

Her victory was made even sweeter by the fact that she missed out on the Beijing Olympics last year because of a stress fracture to her right ankle, an injury that was considered potentially career-threatening.

"I was at such a low point last year so to come back from that and so strongly, it's amazing," she said.

The Arts and Entertainment award was presented to Keighley-born screenwriter Simon Beaufoy in recognition of his work on the multiple Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire and 1997's The Full Monty, which featured a group of unemployed men in Sheffield.

Meanwhile, a Bradford electrician who built an £8m-a-year business from scratch and now employs more than 100 people was given the Lifetime Achievement award.

Balbir Panesar is the founder and managing director of PEC Building & Shopfitting and the first Asian president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

"I am a Bradfordian," he said. "I love Bradford, I am proud of being in Bradford and I would do anything for Bradford."

The Yorkshire Community Hero award goes to cancer sufferer Val Lepadatl, from Doncaster, who co-founded the Aurora Centre, which provides cancer patients with non-medical care at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Mamas and Papas, the Huddersfield-based nursery company, was given the Business Enterprise Award.