IT WAS a celebration of the city and its unsung heroes.

Hundreds of people gathered in Southampton city centre to recognise people who have done their bit to help their community.

People gathered from across the city to demonstrate their love for the city and what their country means to them at the St George’s Day Festival.

And five people were picked out for their unfailing commitment to their neighbours and their bid to make their hometown that little bit better.

They were each given one of the first Daily Echo and St George’s Day Festival Community Awards.

A tearful Tony Witt, who started Brendon FC in 1966 when he was just 16, was one of those five honoured for their efforts.

The 66-year old said that the award wasn’t for him but for his beloved football club.

“The club has been kept going by a lot of dedicated and worthy people that have given their love, their lives and their dedication to the club and wouldn’t have been able to keep it going without them,” he said.

With his family there, including his elder brother he paid tribute to his wife Patricia, and said his daughter Rachel McCauley and his grandson Joshua Banford would make sure the club would keep going.

Little Felix Barrow was another winner.

The 11-year old was hit by a car last year while on his way to Swanmore College.

Despite doctors saying he would never be able to walk again, the Saints fan was joined by his family as he walked on to the stage to collect the award for Young Person or People who have Improved Life and Wellbeing in the Southampton City Region.

Through Fit For Felix, friends, family and villagers in Swanmore have raised tens of thousands of pounds for Felix and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIWAA) and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital, both of which helped Felix.

Speaking afterwards he said he was “stunned” to win and added he was “very grateful” for all the support he has received.

He said he was “very pleased and happy because lots of other people could have won”.

Felix’s best friend Bradley Cambell (correct) who came up with the idea of the fund which was also part of the Daily Echo's Say Yes George campaign which successfully secured a new A&E unit in Southampton General Hospital.

The people behind that campaign, Sarah Parish and James Murray, have been raising money though the Murray Parish Trust for Southampton General Hospital’s PICU.

They won the Putting the Southampton City Region on the Map award after George Osborne matched funding for their campaign.

Nikki Zawada, from Locks Heath, won the Biggest Campaigner for Change in the Southampton City Region after she campaigned for disabled bays in Southampton not to be scrapped.

Her mother was in tears as she returned to her table with her certificate.

Nikki, 28, said: “I feel very honoured to have been picked today. I didn’t expect to win. One in five people has a disability and from personal experience I know it’s an important issue.”

Paul Hennessy, secretary of the Channel Islands and District Tenants and Residents Association won the Biggest Improvement to Quality of Life in the Southampton City Region.

Southampton City Sheriff, Cathy McEwing collected the award on his behalf.

She said: “Paul will be so please with this. It’s quite an honour. I’m please to accept this on his behalf.”

Former Saints boss and compere Lawrie McMenemy said the awards represented the city “bringing together all those different talents, and backgrounds and people from around the world and showing off their skills.

“I don’t think we bang the drum enough. Southampton doesn’t get the publicity it deserves.”