Winchester theatre group receives royal award (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Winchester theatre group receives royal award
9:24am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Winchester By Joseph Curtis
Left to right: Jane Jessop, Polly Troup and Dame Mary Fagan
A WINCHESTER theatre group has received a prestigious royal award.
Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, presented Blue Apple Theatre with The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2012 at a special ceremony on Monday (Oct 15).
The theatre group works with people with learning disabilities and several were at the ceremony at the Tower Arts Centre, Kings' School, to celebrate.
Jane Jessop, founding director of Blue Apple, said: “Blue Apple Theatre would not exist without its volunteers. This award is a wonderful way to mark the contribution of over 100 volunteers from sixth formers and student participants to professionals who give their time in kind, fundraisers and board members.
“We are so grateful to all of them. They have helped us to bring all the fun and benefit of taking part in high quality theatrical and film productions to people with learning disabilities. They help enable participants to discover their talents, follow their dreams, and produce great performances which are fun to watch and which make us think.”
Dame Mary added: “It is a great pleasure to present this Award to the Blue Apple Theatre whose volunteers help to break down barriers and raise awareness through their artistic abilities. “They have achieved a great deal since their formation in 2005 and this Award, the 1000th Queen's Award to be presented, is a great testament to their work.”
Blue Apple was one of 112 groups nationwide to receive the honour, which is the equivalent of an MBE for an organisation, and the 24th in Hampshire to win since the award was created for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
