Every year a host of school students from across the borough are invited to a very special ceremony at Redbridge Town Hall to celebrate their hard work and achievements. This year the event was bigger than ever.
More than 160 young people were honoured for their determination to overcome obstacles and to achieve their goals in the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards.
They are all a great example of the terrific young people in Redbridge and a model for younger children to follow.
Their achievements range from overcoming disabilities and setbacks, to helping others and exceeding expectations.
The gold medals were presented on Thursday, November 22 by the Deputy Lieutenant for Redbridge Thomas Chan, Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and Recorder editor Lindsay Jones.
Mr Chan, the Queen’s official representative in the borough, is also a former mayor. He told the audience of award winners and proud families: “It is an honour and a privilege to be here. The awards are a recognition and acknowledgement of what all the young people here have managed to achieve. You can be truly proud.”
He added: “I hope that when you grow up and have achieved your maximum you will, like Sir Jack Petchey, give back to the community. Hold on to your dream, commit to it and it will come along. The future is bright because you are the future.”
Mr Gapes, who came straight from Parliament to present awards, said afterwards: “It was a fantastic evening, very impressive young people from the borough who have achieved so much. I am delighted to be here this evening to present the awards.”
A number of adult leaders were also presented with awards.
Interval entertainment was provided bysingers from Mayfield High, a young dancer from Beal High and a speech raising awareness of the debilitating sickle cell disease by Beal student Aliyah Haynes who has the condition.
The foundation was set up by Sir Jack, who was born into a poor working class family in the East End, left school at 13 with no qualifications but through hard work became a millionaire businessman. Now 93, he believes in celebrating the good in young people and encouraging them to believe in themselves.
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