THE 2004 Basingstoke Adult Learner Awards were sponsored by BCOT, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Gazette Newspapers.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Paul Harvey, employment skills and learning portfolio holder, said the borough council was proud to be involved with the awards.

"Education and learning in Basingstoke is going from strength to strength," Cllr Harvey told the audience at the event.

"No other local authority has seen the success we have in Basingstoke in the last year.

"Education is really making a difference to our communities.

"From early years to silver surfers, learning and skills are being championed in Basingstoke.

"The borough council takes learning and skills as one of its key priorities and we will be working with our partners to keep on raising the standard."

Gazette deputy editor Deanne Shallcross said: "Gazette Newspapers is delighted to be involved with, and support, the Adult Learner Awards for the second year running.

"It has been fascinating, and very humbling, to discover how people have been able to achieve so much despite many other demands in their daily lives."

Individual awards were also sponsored by the Parkinson's Disease Society, Wilding Butler, King Alfred's College and the Learning and Skills Council.

Brown and Son, of Ringwood, printed the evening's programme.