Oh what a night!
Reporter: Jan Barker and Jennifer Hollamby, Photos: Ian Lowe
Date published: 06 April 2009
IT was lights, camera, action as Oldham rolled out the red carpet for its own business ‘Oscars’ - the One Oldham Awards.
Stunning, amazing and splendid were just some of the descriptions of the gala presentation dinner with over 400 guests representing the best of Oldham’s innovative, skilled and hard working business leaders and their staff.
The Queen Elizabeth Hall was decorated Hollywood-style with a big screen, spotlights, a champagne reception, and even a video of a winner in China for the Lifetime Achievement award.
The black tie event, supported by the Oldham Evening Chronicle, Oldham Council and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and backed by many more local organisations, attracted special guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor shoab Akhtar and Mrs Shafeena Kausar, council leader Councillor Howard Sykes, and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas.
The mood was buoyant and optimistic, despite the credit crunch and recession — and the general consensus was that the awards should be a regular feature of Oldham’s business year.
Councillor Sykes said: “I am immensely proud as a resident of Oldham to be in the company of some of Oldham’s most successful innovators and business minds.
“This event provides an opportunity for Oldham to recognise and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, skills and business acumen that drives Oldham borough’s economic engine.
“The awards were the brainchild of the Chronicle’s business editor, Martyn Torr, and he was supported by Steve Kilroy of BAE systems, in forming the One Oldham Steering Group, which created the inaugural event.
Philip Hirst, managing director of the Chronicle’s publisher Hirst, Kidd and Rennie, said: “This is a true demonstration of Oldham’s confidence in its future. I am proud to be here.”
Guests were warmed up by Oldham’s dance master Danny Price without even leaving their seats, and entertained during the meal by opera solos, duos and trios from the Three Servers, followed by Peter Kay tribute act Lee Lard.
There were 78 nominations for the awards and all the shortlisted candidates received a framed Chronicle front-page souvenir of the evening, and winners took away crystal trophies.
All the nominees were featured Hollywood style on film clips before the golden envelopes were opened to announce the winners, and the entire night was filmed with highlights replayed on the big screen.
And that was where the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award - 71-year-old David Bellis - joined the guests.
He was working — of course — in China and could not be there to receive the crystal trophy from Frank Rothwell, another award winner.
Modest as ever he said that being in the right place at the right time had played a major part in his life and he added: “I have had a lot of help from many of my friends especially many of the people here at the awards ceremony. I thank you all.”
His award was collected by his daughter Wendy who said: “I’m very proud of him. He is supposed to be away on holiday in Australia but has combined it with business in China.”
More awards photographs
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