Champions of the region honoured at Hotspur Awards
Jun 19 2009 by Sara Nichol, The Journal
CHAMPIONS of the region were honoured for their outstanding contribution to North East life.
The Northumbrian Association 10th Annual Parliamentary Dinner was held at the House of Commons and the winners of this year’s Hotspur Awards were announced.
This year’s recipients were Jane Ritchie, founder of the Vocational Learning Trust (VOLT), and Durham County Cricket Club.
Jane established VOLT after inheriting £9m out of the blue from an elderly cousin in 2005. After 15 years of hard work trying to set up a hub for practical learning, she knew this money would more than enough to build The Work Place, a centre to give youngsters in the North East vital work opportunities.
Durham County Cricket club will also be honoured with an award for an outstanding achievement after winning the County Championship and hosting Test matches.
The awards, which were announced by One North East chairman Margaret Fay, look to highlight leading organisations and people committed to championing the culture and heritage of Northumbria.
John Danby, chairman of the Northumbrian Association, said: “It was a fantastic night and everyone seemed to have a great time.
“What makes it such as great event is that people from all different backgrounds attend, which makes it a really unique dinner. We have people there from right across the board – from politics, culture and media.
“Durham Cricket Club were given an award for their outstanding recent achievements, including winning the County Cricket Championships and hosting the Test matches. Jane is a really inspirational woman who used £5m of an inheritance she got from an old cousin to build a centre, based in Newton Aycliffe, to give youngsters experience in getting jobs.
“The awards are always a great way to highlight impressive work being done in the North East. They have been going for 10 years and have gone from strength to strength. At the first dinner there were just 25 people who attended, now it is completely full.”
Previous Hotspur Award winners include Tyne and Wear Museums, Beamish Museum founder Frank Atkinson, playwright Lee Hall, artist Antony Gormley, Alan Shearer and – again collectively – Gateshead Council.
For more information about the Northumbrian Association, visit www.northumbrianassociation.com
