Having braved the elements of a chilly January evening, guests were warmed by the extraordinary stories of ambition and dedication shown by all 19 finalists, who were whittled down from an entry field of over 80 nominations.

Heart-felt cheering, applause and feet-stomping greeted each of the finalists as they took to the stage.

City Building instructor Lawrence Johnson so impressed the judges that he was a finalist for the second consecutive year in the Public Service Individual category.

Having just returned from six months in Afghanistan with the Territorial Army, the 41-year-old, based at the Skills Academy in Laurieston, deflected the individual glory, saying: “I work with a lot of youngsters from this area and across Glasgow, so it’s recognition for them that they’re doing well.”

The Gorbalites 50+ group might have lost out on the opening Team gong to environmental project Great Gardens, but founding member Charlotte Lafferty was unstinting in her praise of the over-50s social club.

The 70-year-old said: “You meet up with your friends and meet other friends. It’s magic.”

As ever, the most vocal support on the night came from the under-18 ambassadors of the Young Community Champion category.

There was a groundswell of support for schoolgirl Abby Louise Tombs. Since being diagnosed with Lupus the 12-year-old King’s Park Secondary pupil has raised over £10,000 for Kidney Research UK.

It’s great to see everyone who has been nominated,” she said. “I just enjoy raising money to help other people with kidney problems.”

And it was an emotional night for the Young category winners of the Shawlands Dance Group. Their founder and coach, single mum Huma Abbasi, is about to leave Glasgow for a new life in Luton.

Holy Cross Primary’s headteacher Kevin Carr cheered on his pupils, nominated for their efforts in transforming their school playground.

He said: “Our children are quite vociferous – they have a big say in the running of the school.”

Councillor Anne Marie Millar summed up the standard of the entrants saying: “I wouldn’t dare to think where we would be without them.

“You see from the amount of people who turned out tonight – and it’s not the warmest of evenings – that there is real community spirit.”

All the winners from the area will be invited to a grand final at the City Chambers next Autumn when the overall Local Heroes of Glasgow will be named.

Our search for neighbourhood and local heroes living in the Maryhill, Kelvindale and Summerston areas of Glasgow begins on Monday.