For the second time in two years, an Isle of Wight employee has been recognised for their outstanding work in welcoming visitors – and we’re being asked to get behind him!

The shortlist for Visit England and the Mirror newspaper’s Tourism Superstar 2020 has been announced – and a Hovertravel employee is among those recognised. Lorry Middleton is shortlisted as a Tourism Superstar for his passion in his job and for the Isle of Wight as a destination, offering advice and suggestions for those visiting the UK’s number one holiday island. It is now down to a public vote to decide the winner.

Visit Isle of Wight nominated Lorry for the Visit England/Mirror Tourism Superstar awards. Will Myles, MD at Visit Isle of Wight says he is delighted: It’s an achievement in itself that Lorry has been shortlisted by Visit England for this accolade. It’s now down to us as people on the Island, as friends and family to get the votes in place for Lorry so he can be Visit England’s Tourism Superstar.’

Neil Chapman, MD at Hovertravel says: ‘All of us at Hovertravel are incredibly proud of Lorry today. I think all the effort that he puts into his job has been acknowledged whole heartedly through this awards process and we’re are delighted for him.’

Lorry adds that coming to work each day is a pleasure: ‘The people that I work with are absolutely fantastic, the craft is exciting, watching it pull up each morning, the commuters turn up, the school kids, the daily traveller and they want to know about the island, what bus. I had one yesterday that came all the way from Texas and she wanted to go to a place I’ve never been to on the island, but it was getting there that was the logistical challenge.’

Now Lorry is up against nine potential winners from around the country including Plymouth, London and Blackpool. It is the public vote which will decide who will take the crown of Tourism Superstar.

When asked why people should vote for him, Lorry adds: ‘If people like me and they remember me for looking after them and helping them, then that’s what I’d like to be voted for. I’d like to be voted for the fact that I do a good job, or try to do a good job, and that I try to look after people.’

Voting for the Visit England and Mirror Travel Tourism Superstar opens March 7 and the winner will be announced on Saturday April 25, during English Tourism Week.