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| Councillor Chaz Singh at the MTM Awards 2014 with his Community Champion Award |
January 08, 2015: A DRAKE Ward Councillor has been named community champion of the South West at a prestigious award ceremony.
Councillor Chaz Singh was presented with the award at the MTM South West Asian and Ethnic Minorities Awards in Bristol.
The award was presented to Cllr Singh in recognition of his efforts in the Plymouth community and raising the profile of Sikhs in the city.
In 2011 Cllr Singh held the honour of becoming the first Sikh councillor in Plymouth and in 2012 he became the first Sikh deputy Lord Mayor for Plymouth.
Last year was full of more achievement's for Cllr Singh – not least becoming an internet sensation when his, now famous 'Turban Outfitters' tweet went viral.
It's this attitude that has even earned Cllr Singh recognition on a global scale.
He was commended for being a "strong Sikh leader" and for his work in "breaking down barriers" for the Sikh community at a banquet held in Washington D.C. last July.
"There aren't a lot of Sikhs in Plymouth and I did stick-out a bit when I first arrived," he said, speaking to The Herald last year.
"The organisers have seen what I have been doing here in the community and my role as an ambassador of the Sikh faith.
"They haven't picked me because I'm a councillor or a former deputy Lord Mayor. It has been about breaking down barriers."
The glittering MTM awards featured an audience of over 400 and Cllr Singh was seated on a table of noted members of the South West's ethnic community: "It was an amazing night," he said.
"We were sat with the Lord Mayor of Bristol, the Honorary Consulate of Romania and the wife and daughter of Batook Pandya, former director of Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) who died last February."
"It's wonderful to be recognised for any award," Cllr Singh said, "but this award in particular was about being recognised and gaining that recognition for Plymouth.
"To be presented for this award in front of a Bristol audience and receive it for work done in Plymouth is a fantastic showcase for our city."
The Meet the Mast (MTM) awards began in 2012 and run every two years, celebrating the work of ethnic minorities in the South West from new businesses to young achievers.
Cllr Singh was up against five other nominees for the Community Champion award which was voted for by the public.
Cllr Singh said: "The people who voted made this possible and that makes this even more of an honour.
"Anything which showcases Plymouth in a positive way is a cause for celebration."
This is a huge positive step for Plymouth and the key will be to continue building on this."