Guests gather for the Town Council’s Civic Reception in Ormiston Rivers Academy’s performance hallWendy Stamp and her husband BarrieOrmiston Rivers Academy students performing songs from We Will Rock You – 6th-former Oliver Vallance singing a solo. Oliver represented Essex in the National Final of the Jack Petchley Speak Out Competition – reputedly the largest public speaking competition for young people in the world.Jessica Hearn, in Year 12, sings an emotional song about a mentally broken young girl. Jessica is a high-achiever, scoring outstanding results in her GCSEs and is a talented singer, musician and dancer.13-year-old Edward Farthing joins in a duet with Jessica Hearn from We Will Rock You. Edward is an accomplished ballroom dancer and is due to compete in this year’s national championships in Blackpool
Town Mayor Wendy Stamp presents the Performing Arts Award to Oliver VallanceTown Mayor Wendy Stamp presents the Performing Arts Award to Jessica Hearn
Town Mayor Wendy Stamp presents the Performing Arts Award to Edward FarthingSandra Carroll receives the Teacher’s Award from the Town Mayor. She recently won an Essex Teaching Award for her work in Performing Arts. She has significantly raised standards in the performing arts at Ormiston Rivers Academy.
7-year-old James Pennock climbs the steps to receive an award for kindness, after a series of extraordinarily generous moments of care and concern he demonstrated at school and in the community. James does not recall the incidents and did not want to talk about them – but they are widely attested.
Michael Hazell received The Community Champion Award for his voluntary work in the allotments and his litter-picking in the North Ward
Alice Bush receives the award for ‘Volunteer with a Smile’ from Town Mayor. Her husband Jason looks on. Well-known local greengrocers, Alice and Jason are active in the parish and do a lot for the community.
Epic Dance receive the Health, Well-being & Nurturing Award. The local dance troop have performed as far apart as the O2 stadium and Disneyland Paris. Dance teacher Carlie Boler holds the cup.
Angela Mahoney is given the Educational Support Champion award by the Town Mayor, for her indefatigable work supporting events at Ormiston Rivers Academy.
Ray Kirkham receives the Mayor’s Lifetime Award. Known as ‘No-Probs-Ray’, he is a father of three and a grandfather of four. He has helped run a mother-and-toddler group as well as working as a volunteer for the RNLI for 20 years. He is a church elder and is always helping people, including teaching people to drive and getting 80 local people through their driving tests. He also helps steward local events.
