Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Sunday, 27 February 2011

It gives Marjorie and I a sense of grandeur as we were driven through the gates of Durham Castle to the main hall. We were met by John, the chauffeur for the Mayor of Durham City and shown to our table to meet up with Councillor Mamie Simmons, the Mayor of Durham City, and her son Neville, who is her Consort. Georgie Menzies of the Student Community Action Group joined us and welcomed us to the event.  We were shortly joined by Professor Chris Higgins, the Vice Chancellor of Durham University with his partner, who had been with us at Hardwick Hall, the night before. We had a buffet meal and were entertained by some great musicians who were students at Durham University.  The awards ceremony started with a welcome to the event by Professor Higgins, who praised the work done by the students which had benefited the communities around Durham and Stockton. Presentations were made about the work and done by the representatives and project leaders.  

It was then time for a break, which gave Marjorie and I time to circulate around the tables and talk to the students. The second part of the entertainment was by a students' Barber Shop Quartet, and again they were very good. We now came to the actual oSCAr's awards with the Mayor of Durham City presenting the SCA Star Volunteer Award for the Durham Campus. I presented the oSCAr Award for the Star Volunteer Award for Queen's Campus, which is local to Stockton.  The students had done a lot of work to improve the lives of the residents of Rochester Court sheltered housing  in Stockton.  They also do dog walking for the Dog's Trust at Sadburgh which looks after abandoned dogs. Marjorie and I praised all the good hard work done by the students, which isn't publicised enough.

We said our goodbyes to everyone and left for a gentle drive home.