The 17 winners of the prestigious National Outdoor Events Association awards recently received their glass trophies at a glittering ceremony in Bath.
The association, which aims to educate, advise and enhance professionalism and business opportunities within the sector and has more than 400 members nationwide, was also celebrating 35 years.
Its surviving founders Jeff Brownhut, Alan Goldsmith and Ted Cody all received Lifetime Achievement Awards from President Richard Limb.
Michael Bell, a NOEA member from Kingdom Connections Ltd, joined household names Lord Sebastian Coe, Harvey Goldsmith and Michael Eavis as a recipient of the President’s Award.
Winners came from across the UK with Celebrate Aberdeen picking up the NOEA Scotland Award to the delight of the deputy Lord Provost Councillor John Reynolds; the Midsomerset Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, scooping Event Team of the Year and the City of Lincoln Christmas Market taking two of the honours with Event Organiser of the Year Award and Event of the Year.
Mr Limb told guests at the ceremony held at the city’s Pump Rooms: “It’s a long time since I remember being 35 but at 35 you are quite mature, you are no longer juvenile and you have lots of energy, enthusiasm and get up and go; that’s the stage NOEA has reached.
“I am immensely proud to be president and I am delighted so many are here to join us to celebrate our 35th birthday. “
Compere for the night was Paul Hooper, Secretary for the Royal Bath and West of England Society, who said: “Without organisations like NOEA there would not be outdoor events and places for people to go and enjoy in their spare time. NOEA works with others to make sure events are safe and enjoyable.”
Head judge was Alistair Turner, formerly PR director of Davies Tanner, which promotes the Britain for Events campaign, who has founded his own business, Eight PR & Marketing.
He said to be a finalist was an achievement in the NOEA awards with the standard of entries getting higher and higher.
Carl Hagemann, from professional body IOSH which was on one of the night sponsors, said: “We are using health safety as an enabler to allow events to take place; it is a vehicle to make things happen rather than not happen. We recognise the importance of health and safety within the events industry.”
