On July 1st Northamptonshire Heritage Forum hosted a feel-good evening celebrating the very best of Northamptonshire’s heritage. 78 Derngate is proud and delighted to announce that The Heritage Award for ‘Best Event of 2019-2020’ was won by us for our ‘Evening with Call the Midwife’ which we held just before lockdown in February last year.
Compered by BBC Radio Northampton’s John Griff DL, the ceremony was held online of course, due to COVID-19 restraints - which allowed everyone to attend from far and wide. Guests and presenters included James Lowther of Holdenby VII, representing the Lord Lieutenant, and Earl Spencer, Patron of the Forum. Andrea Leadsom DBE MP and Andrew Lewer MBE MP presented awards, along with Kate Dent of ‘Northamptonshire Surprise' representing the county’s excellent promotional website. John Griff also presented the ‘People’s Choice Award’ reflecting the most popular organisation featured on his BBC Radio Northampton show.
There were eight categories plus the People’s Choice Award – for which 78 Derngate was also shortlisted - and the award was won in recognition of a very successful and highly enjoyable event held in collaboration with Northampton High School at their venue. The event saw hundreds of fans descend upon the school’s great hall who all avidly listened with delight at many amusing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, and her husband – who plays Dr Turner – Steve McGann.
Northamptonshire Heritage Forum said: “It has been hard for us all to keep going during the pandemic, but imagination, passion and commitment have enabled many to find new ways of working together and produced wonderful results that have kept spirits high both within the teams and the communities they serve. New skills have been learned by many, especially increased familiarisation with the digital world. The innovation demonstrated by the winners has been an inspiration for us all. And as James Lowther VII reminded us, our unique Northamptonshire Heritage is something to be proud of and is an important element of the offer to the multimillion-pound tourism business, essential to our hospitality sector.”
It is hoped that winning accolades such as this will continue to motivate and inspire our existing volunteers, Friends and visitors and also that it will encourage new interest to emerge. The entire evening was a wonderful celebration of all the fantastic cultural and heritage sites across the county and all the people who work or volunteer for them.