PLYMOUTH businessman Kevin Kelway has won an award for his community campaigning – including being part of the 1990s battle to preserve Tinside Lido.

Mr Kelway, from The Hoe, was honoured at a special awards night held at the House of Lords and hosted by author, broadcaster and journalist Muriel Gray, perhaps better known to people of a certain vintage for fronting 1980s alternative music TV show The Tube.

Mr Kelway was lauded by the Sheila McKechnie (SMK) Foundation, which was set up to inspire and support campaigners across a range of sectors, such as environment, transport and social justice.

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Foundation set up the awards to pay tribute to people who demonstrate their commitment to tackling the root causes of injustice and inequality.

Mr Kelway won the People and Place Local Campaigner Award, particularly for his work on the Tinside Lido issue.

As a key figure in the Tinside Action Group, he orchestrated a campaign to keep and upgrade the 1920s lido, when its future was in doubt.

The Group amassed 70,000 signatures calling for the outdoor swimming pool to stay open.

The lido was not only saved but secured a Grade II listing and reopened in 2002 after a £3.2million restoration.

Mr Kelway has also been involved in campaigns to preserve the now-restored Drake’s Reservoir, in North Hill, and also collected 30,000 signatures in support of keeping Gibraltar British and also helping persuade the Electoral Commission to include the Rock in the South West European Parliamentary constituency.

Mr Kelway, who received his trophy from Rukayah Sarumi from not-for-profit community organisation Movement for Change, was one of a number of people and groups from across the UK honoured for having helped to “make a difference”.

Mr Kelway, who runs Plymouth business Dorcas Media, said: “Campaigning is about giving voice to many thousands, perhaps millions, of people whose views and needs are too often ignored by decision makers.”

Also attending the awards event were Tory MPs Oliver Colvile and Zac Goldsmith, and Victor Abebowale, a crossbench peer and chief executive of the social care enterprise Turning Point.

A SMK spokesman said: “The 10th Anniversary Campaigner Awards are a celebration of people who demonstrate their commitment to, and effectiveness in, tackling the root causes of injustice and inequality, be it over the last year or over many years.

“Whether on a local or national basis, they are people who have brought about lasting change within their communities or more widely.”