As we look back on this year's phoenominally successful Highways Heroes Awards we reflect on the winner of the highest accolade at this year's event, the Kevin Jarvis Hero in Highways Award, kindly sponsored by BakerHicks.
Described by friends and colleagues as "one of a kind" and "the best boss you could ever have" Keith Baldwin was the highly deserved winner of the Hero in Highways award at this year's blue ribband ceremony.
Founder of the traffic management company HTM in 1995 Keith devoted his career to creating a safer environment for not only those who worked for his own organisation but also the sector as a whole.
Sadly, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer in January, which left him and the family with limited options of treatment.
Keith passed away just a few weeks later.
In a fitting tribute to the giant of our sector the Heroes, with the kind permission of the Baldwin family, alongside sponsors Baker Hicks recognised him as part of what is the industry's blue ribband awards ceremony, a tribute to a man who gave so much to the industry he held so dear to his heart.
The award, which, presented at this year's ceremony any the London Hilton on Park Lane on the 28th November.
Speaking about the Award, Kevin Robinson, one of the founders of the Highways Heroes Award said,
"You think as the event director of the Highways Heroes you have seen it all and then somebody comes along and truly floors you with a story of sheer devotion and dedication to keeping people safe."
"Not an act of random kindness, not somebody who has gone above and beyond whilst not once asking for thanks but instead but whose back story simply moves you with a lifelong committment to an industry we all hold dear to our hearts."
"It was and not just that but you have moved the head judge and I to such a massive extent that we have decided to recognise this individual with a special Hero in Highways award, a unique trophy designed and presented to a truly unique individual as the highlight of this year's ceremony."
"This year's winner is somebody whose achievements truly moved the two of us to tears when we heard their story and as such we felt, in the true spirit of the ceremony we could not let this individual go unnoticed."
The special trophy, made from brushed chrome and bore a different insignia to those awarded to other Highways Heroes Winners, something the organisers feel is befitting of the significance of it.
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