Southport Families Honoured Alongside Speedo Mick, Claire House and Mark King at Emotional The Guide Liverpool Heroes Awards
The city came together in a powerful show of unity, compassion and admiration at the inaugural The Guide Liverpool Heroes Awards, where the families of Southport victims Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar received a standing ovation during an unforgettable night at the Titanic Hotel.
There were tears, cheers and moments of overwhelming emotion as the parents of the three young girls—who tragically lost their lives in August last year—were presented with a Special Award recognising their extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable loss.
Each family has channelled their grief into creating lasting legacies in their daughters’ names, establishing charities that are already making an impact across the region:
- Bebe’s Hive, offering grief support for children;
- Elsie’s Story, providing medical care, community events and bereavement support;
- Alice’s WonderDance Foundation, delivering dance programmes and resources to young people who need them most.
Former Chief Constable of Merseyside Serena Kennedy presented the Special Award, which formed the emotional climax of an evening dedicated to celebrating those who make Liverpool the inspiring, compassionate city it is.
A Night for the City’s True Heroes
The first-ever The Guide Liverpool Heroes Awards marked 10 years of The Guide Liverpool and honoured outstanding individuals, businesses and organisations whose stories have shaped their coverage over the past decade.
Among the headline winners was Speedo Mick, who received the Liverpool City Region Superhero award in recognition of his remarkable journey from homelessness and addiction to raising more than ÂŁ1 million for charity.
Claire House Children’s Hospice was named Charity of the Year for its essential work supporting seriously ill children and their families, while the Inspiration Award went to Mark King OBE, founder of the Oliver King Foundation. Following the tragic loss of his son Oliver, Mark has campaigned tirelessly for defibrillators in public spaces—lifesaving efforts that have already saved 89 lives.
Hundreds gathered for the ceremony, where guests heard powerful stories of bravery, advocacy, community activism and selfless dedication. Awards spanned categories including Community Hero, Fundraising Hero, Child of Courage, Sustainability, and Emergency Services.
Jay Hynd, founder and director of The Guide Liverpool, who hosted the event alongside presenter Gemma Cutting, said he was humbled by the turnout and deeply moved by the stories of every finalist.
“It was through sharing the stories of amazing people across the Liverpool City Region that we realised it was time to honour them. I knew it would be difficult because there are so many—but I truly hadn’t realised just how difficult it would be,” he said.
“There were tears—tissues were needed—but also so much laughter and cheering. It was a privilege to shine a spotlight on everyone who has made a massive difference to so many people.”
He added thanks to sponsors including Liverpool Cruise Port, San Carlo Restaurants, and Radisson RED, emphasising that the night belonged wholly to the people who work tirelessly to improve lives across the region.
The ceremony concluded with live music from Liverpool singer-songwriter Rebecca Ferguson and DJ Jack Hellier, rounding off a night filled with emotion, gratitude and celebration of the city’s everyday heroes.
