BRITAIN'S finest in fleet were recognised on Wednesday at the 1999 Fleet News Awards - when 24 awards were presented to fleet managers, vehicle manufacturers and fleet suppliers. About 1,100 people from across the fleet industry packed the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, for the fleet industry 'Oscars'. The top award of the night - UK Fleet of the Year - was won by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and was presented to head of transport services David Graham, who is in charge of the force's unique 2,700-strong fleet.

The Fleet Manager of the Year Award - Over 250 Vehicles was won by Peter Babbage, fleet manager at Transco, which operates 10,000 vehicles. Fleet Manager of the Year - Under 250 Vehicles was Ron Dickson, fleet manager of Glasgow-based Wallace, Cameron & Co. The Fleet Environmental Award was won by Simon Boggis, national fleet manager, TNT International, and the Fleet Risk Management Award was won by Andy Price, market segment manager, of Hampshire-based Permabond.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall retained the Fleet Manufacturer of the Year Award. The Fleet News Special Award was won by John Dewar, transport manager of the Mid-Anglia Community Health NHS Trust and chairman of the National Health Service Transport Managers Association. Dewar challenged NHS Supplies' centrally-negotiated leasing deal for NHS organisations and their employees and secured an improved deal through the NHSTMA.

Vauxhall won two other awards - Environmental Supplier of the Year Award and the Best Lower Medium Car Award for the Astra - while Volkswagen also secured a hat-trick by winning the Best Small Car, Best Diesel Car and Best MPV categories. There was a double triumph for Kwik-Fit Fleet winning the Fleet Service Company of the Year - Over 50 Employees and the Fleet Driver Customer Support Awards.