A Glittering Ceremony
By Emma Stuart (co-Chair)
The Heritage Angels Awards
Trustees and friends of the Stroud Preservation Trust were given the red carpet treatment at a glittering awards ceremony at the Palace Theatre in London on 31st October.
In September, the Stroud Preservation Trust with the Brunel Goods Shed project made it to the shortlist of 16 out of over 200 entries for the title of Heritage Angels and on the 31st October, the winners would be announced.
With camera crews and photographers at the ready, members of the Trust set foot on the red carpet laid outside the palace theatre and went inside. Donned with name badges we were kindly welcomed and congratulated by Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage. After which we were treated to a short reception alongside some of the hosts of the event including Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Moore of the Daily Telegraph, Clare Balding, Danielle Hope and Graham Norton.
The Trust had been allocated seats in the second row from the front giving a fantastic view of the proceedings. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber welcomed everyone to the event with the following speech:
All 16 short listed groups were exceptional and the judges had a hard time deciding between them. But in the end the winners stood out for their passion, perseverance and imagination, for the scale of the challenges they had taken on and for the legacy they leave behind – a secure future for beautiful historic buildings which without them could so easily have simply disappeared.
I am delighted that this first year of the award scheme has brought so many heritage Angels into the spotlight and look forward to many others joining their ranks in the years to come.
Following on, Simon Thurley announced:
More than 200 local groups applied to win an Angel. Each group was fighting to save an important slice of our nation’s heritage. The 16 short listed groups were all outstanding and if we could have made them all prize-winners we would have. Yet it was a competition and the six winning groups brilliantly showed how local people with a passion can rescue some of the most important parts of England’s history.
The Industrial Heritage Category was up first and Clare Balding gave an enthusiastic introduction to the short films showing the buildings saved by local community groups. Michael Winner announced the successful candidate… Pleasely Colliery in Nottinghamshire.
But we don’t mind not winning (except that the award certificate was superbly designed and absolutely gorgeous) because we already felt like winners purely for being recognized, short listed and invited to such a wonderful event. The Trust received a beautiful certificate which we hope to display in the window of Stroud Town Council’s offices for a short time. This award is to recognise the efforts of Stroud Preservation Trust Trustees, members and anyone else who has played a part – past and present – for all of the hard work they have put into saving a building that was very much ‘at risk.’ Trustees Nigel Paterson and Anne Mackintosh deserve extra special mention and thanks for patiently seeking a sustainable future for the Brunel Goods Shed building for the past 25 years. No small undertaking!
Anne Mackintosh & Nigel Patterson
Other winners of the Angel Awards included:
Westenhanger Castle and Mediaeval Barns for the repair of The Smythe Barn at Westenhanger, Hythe, Kent for the best craftsmanship employed on a heritage rescue
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust and The St Stephen’s Restoration and Preservation Trust for the best rescue of any other entry from the Heritage at Risk register.
Left Bank Leeds for rescuing The Former Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Leeds, West Yorkshire for the best rescue of a historic place of worship
The National Trust in partnership with the City of Bath College and Nimbus Conservation for their collective rescue of Tyntesfield Orangery in Somerset – winner of an English Heritage Angel Award as the Telegraph Subscribers’ and English Heritage Members’ Favourite.
The organisation of the event was marvelous and thanks should be extended to all involved behind the scenes for making this happen and to English Heritage and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber for their generous sponsorship.
