The winners of the English Heritage Angel Awards, founded last year by Andrew Lloyd Webber to celebrate the efforts of local volunteers in rescuing their heritage, were announced at a gala ceremony in London’s West End this month (Monday 22 October).

Among the shortlisted entries in the Craftsmanship category was the work of stonemason Gary Simpson on Blenkinsopp Castle. Gary did not win, but there will be more about Gary, his Father, who is also a stonemason, and their work at the castle in the next edition of Natural Stone Specialist magazine. To subscribe to the magazine and see the report click here.

The entries in the Angel Awards have to have been on the English Heritage ‘At Risk’ register to qualify.

The idea of the Awards was to raise the status of volunteers in the heritage sector in the face of budget restrictions – all part of the Big Society of getting people to look after themselves and each other.

The Angel Awards ceremony this year was (like last year’s first) held at The Palace Theatre. It was hosted by TV presenter Clare Balding, and the various Awards were presented by: Graham Norton; Antiques Roadshow expert Philip Mould; Culture Minister Ed Vaizey; Melvyn Bragg; Charles Moore, a columnist in the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator.

There were 16 finalists from which the five winners were selected. They were announced with the age-old Awards flourish of unsealing an envelope and reading out the winner.

And the winners were:

• Best Rescue of an Industrial Building or Site – Max Sinclair for The Droitwich Canals, Wychavon, Worcestershire
• Best Rescue of any Heritage building or site – Cockermouth Shopfront Steering Group for Main Street, Cumbria
• Best Repair of a Place of Worship – Pauline Burkitt and Simon Pleasley, Church Wardens for St Mary’s Church, West Somerton, Norfolk
• Best Craftsmanship Employed on a Heritage Rescue – Station Developments for Tynemouth Station, North Tyneside
• Angel Award voted for by English Heritage followers and Telegraph readers – Russell Savory, Friends of Stow Maries Aerodrome for Stow Maries Word War I Airfield, Maldon, Essex.

Andrew Lloyd Webber chaired the judging panel, which comprised Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, Charles Moore representing the Telegraph, historian Bettany Hughes and the Bishop of London the Right Revd Richard Chartres.

Andrew Lloyd Webber did not quite make it to the event this year as he was on his way back from Sheffield, where he had been for the last night of the tour of Jesus Christ, Super Star. But he sent a message: “I am delighted for all the winners of this year’s Angel Awards who were chosen from a very strong shortlist. I think it is hugely important to publicly recognise the efforts of those rescuing heritage sites in order to show our appreciation for their work and encourage even more people across the country to do the same.”

Dr Simon Thurley of English Heritage said: “Once again we have been dazzled by the energy, invention, commitment and public spiritedness of thousands of people determined to save their precious heritage. While the Angel Awards were presented to five people, we are all winners, as we can now enjoy the historic places they have saved for the future.”

Clare Balding said: “I’m thrilled to be presenting the Heritage Angels Awards once again. I was so impressed with last year’s entries and know from this year’s list how much hard work has continued to be invested in revitalising our country’s magical buildings. These awards reward those who have completed work and inspire those who have just begun.”

You can see more about the Awards and the winning projects on the English Heritage website – click here.