Mel was voted the winner by sports fans in Kent and Sussex who selected her from a shortlist of five candidates. Her award marked the culmination of an evening hosted by BBC Radio Kent presenter John Warnett, in which awards were given in fifteen categories of sporting achievement. Winners of the other categories were:FEMALE SPORTS PERSONALITY: gold medal shooting champion, Charlotte Kerwood
MALE SPORTS PERSONALITY: Jockey Ryan Moore of Brighton’s Ingelside Stables
DISABLED SPORTS PERSONALITY: rower, Alistair Mckean
CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Sussex County Cricket Club’s Mushtaq Ahmed
FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR: Gillingham FC’s Matt Jarvis
CLUB OF THE YEAR: East Grinstead Hockey
COACH OF THE YEAR: Canterbury Rugby Club’s Danny Vaughan
YOUNG SPORTSPERSON: tennis player, Naomi Cavaday and world kiteboarding champion Aaron Hadlow
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Sussex County Cricket Club’s Mark Robinson
YOUNG TEAM OF THE YEAR: Brighton and Hove
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT: 15 hundred metre Commonwealth champion Lisa Dobriskey
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Sussex County Cricket Club
WATERSPORTS PERSONALITY: windsurfer Keith Atkinson BBC South East's Unsung Hero of 200680 year-old Fred Fagg of Mersham Sports Club in Ashford has been chosen as the 2006 BBC South East Sporting Unsung Hero, after 70 years of service to the club.
 | | Fred Fagg - Unsung Hero 2006 |
The award, supported by Tesco, recognises an individual who, on a voluntary basis, makes a difference to sport within the area. A person who gives their time and talent to enable other to participate in sports at any level working with individuals, groups, team or teams. Fred became a member of Mersham Sports Club in 1936 at the age of 10 when he played cricket for the local side and has been dedicated to the club ever since. He retired from playing cricket in 1976 and became a cricket umpire for Mersham attending every game for the club. | "Fred became a member of Mersham Sports Club in 1936 at the age of 10 and has been dedicated to the club ever since" | |
Nicola Wise who nominated Fred says: “Fred has been doing the ground work, upkeep and maintenance of Mersham Sports Club since the early 1950’s and he hasn’t missed a day. Come rain or shine, snow or frost Fred can be found down at the ground doing one of the many things that needs to be done. People like Fred come along once in a lifetime and we have all been blessed to have his faithfulness and loyalty.” Fred continues to play an important part in the upkeep of the club in Mersham. And after decades of watching and supporting her husband, wife Irene says she deserves the award as much as he does… | 
