THE FIRM which runs leisure centres in Thornbury and Yate were joined by actor Chris Barrie for an awards ceremony held on Friday, January 9.

Chris Barrie, famous for his role as hapless leisure centre manager, Gordon Brittas on BBC One’s 1990s comedy The Brittas Empire, took his humour to the stage at Circadian Trust’s Fire and Ice award ceremony at BAWA Health and Leisure.

The comedian presented nine awards to Circadian Trust employees who went above and beyond the call of duty, making a significant difference to the Trust in the past year.

The highlight of the evening was the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award that was dually presented by Chris Barrie and Circadian Trust chief executive, Mark Crutchley, to winner, Ian Jones. Ian began working for South Gloucestershire Council in 1991 as leisure engineer and became director of Building and Environment in 2007.

Mark Crutchley said: “Over the past 24 years Ian has been instrumental to the Trust’s success, including securing a £750K Sport England Energy Improvement grant in 2014. More recently, Ian helped achieve several International Standards Organisation (ISO) accreditations that recognise exemplary Energy Management & Environment, Health & Safety Systems and Quality Systems.

He is a colleague with real passion and dedication, not to mention an environmental antidote for insomnia, king of the ice bucket challenge and is wildly recognised across the centres for his infectious sense of humour.”

Following Mark’s speech, Ian was invited to join gifted vocal impressionist, Chris Barrie on to the stage to try his hand at impersonations. The ceremony ended with a barrel of laughs amongst the Circadian Trust members that attended.