Pride of Scotland 2021
It was a moment that summed up the spirit at the heart of the 2021 Pride of Scotland Awards.
Paying tribute to the man who saved her life, Lynne Robertson said: "I wouldn't be here with my husband and my daughter if it wasn't for Gerry. I owe you my life, Gerry. I love you."
Gerry Morrison, 72, risked his own life to tackle a knifeman who was attacking Lynne at the housing office where she worked.
His incredible courage was just one of the awe-inspiring examples of heroism in the unmissable show on STV, hosted by Nicky Campbell and Kirsty Gallacher at iconic Hopetoun House on the banks of the Forth.
The Daily Record’s Pride of Scotland Awards, in partnership with TSB, saw dozens of our biggest stars honour unsung heroes young and old.
As well as truly inspirational winners, the show was packed with uplifting and emotional moments and hilarious celebrity surprises.
Jamie McCallum was lost for words when Gordon Ramsay interruped a romantic lunch with wife Victoria to tell him he has won the TSB Community Hero award.
Jamie created a viral video to raise awareness of Down Syndrome, which was so successful, it blossomed into a charity, Wouldn’t Change A Thing. He was congratulated by TV star James Corden.
And Teenager of Courage Lily Douglas was open-mouthed when her dancing idols AJ and Curtis Pritchard performed a special routine just for her to reveal she is a winner.
Lily’s smile lit up the stage at the awards, where she received her trophy from legendary choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips.
Alesha Dixon also told Lily: "I can't think of anyone that deserves this award more. I love you."
Other stars honouring winners included Rangers boss and former England star Steven Gerrard and actor Martin Clunes who told 10-year-old Aaron Hunter, the world’s first recipient of a pioneering “heart-in-a-box” transplant how his courage had inspired them.
The show featured some of the biggest faces from rock and pop, including Sir Cliff Richard, Britpop icons Jarvis Cocker from Pulp and Blur’s Alex James, along with Sharleen Spiteri, Annie Lennox and Midge Ure.
Midge presented the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever award to Olivia Blackburn, who overcame mental and physical health challenges, and personal tragedy, to devote her life to caring for others.
Sporting legends in the show included Celtic trio Sir Kenny Dalglish, John Hartson and Paul Lambert, Scots F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart and rugby hero Doddie Weir, who won an award last year for his inspirational battle against motor neurone disease.
And a Who’s Who of TV included Bake Off’s Prue Leith, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Bear Grylls, Sir Trevor McDonald and chat show queen Lorraine Kelly.
But the true stars of the show were the winners, who inspired viewers with their courage, selflessness and modesty.
They also included Karen Morrison, who founded a charity to help siblings separated by the care system forge invaluable family ties, and Dr Kenneth Baillie, a leading light in the fight against Covid-19, who carried out vital research into treatments while working on the critical care frontline.
Teenager Brynn Hauxwell pushed himself 1,700 miles in his wheelchair in a gruelling fundraising challenge, and police officers Lisa MacDonald and David Fraser carried out a breathtaking rescue from a burning car.
The People’s Award went to the Scotland men’s football team, who qualified for their first tournament for 23 years. Accepting the award on behalf of the team, manager Steve Clarke said: “I know what it meant to the country to have the team back on the big stage. What we saw from the fans at Hampden and Wembley, and the excitement generated in schools and communities all across the country, I'm proud that we've played a role in reconnecting the country through the national game.”
And Sir Godfrey Palmer, Scotland’s first black professor and a lifelong campaigner against inequality and racism, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Paying tribute, Sir Trevor McDonald told him: “You are such an inspiration to us all."
They were words that could apply to every one of the winners on a magical and uplifting night.