Lifetime achievement award for city's Clinton Smith in honour of his dedication to equality in Preston

Clinton Smith was awarded the Lifetime Community Achievement Award at the 2018 Fusion Awards held in Blackburn.

As chairman of the Preston Black History Group, the 67-year-old widened the group’s outlook to support racial tolerance and celebrate diversity in Preston.

Clinton said: “Every so often in life out of the blue comes a really ‘feel good moment’ – for me this is one of those moments.

“In life you choose to carry out certain actions because you have the ability to do so for the benefit of others and the community within which you live and work.”

Clinton, who has worked in maintenance for the Prison Service for 19 years, added: “Preston has changed considerably over the years in terms of its communities and race relations.

“I am pleased to live in a city where we have such a large mix of nationalities and ethnicities all coexisting together in a small shared space.

"The positives for the future in my opinion are that so many of the groups are engaged in conversations together laying the foundation for future generations.”

At the awards ceremony, Clinton thanked Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid and University of Central Lancashire professor Alan Rice for their time and advice.