Press Releases
St Anne's Cathedral Spire of Hope Awards and Presentations
LAUNCH OF BELFAST CATHEDRAL'S 'SPIRE OF HOPE AWARDS' FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE & PRESENTATION OF CHEQUES TO CHRISTIAN AID, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, AND THE NI CANCER CENTRE IN MEMORY OF ALEX HIGGINS
On Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 the Dean of Belfast, the Very Revd Dr Houston McKelvey, announced in St Anne’s Cathedral details of 'The Spire of Hope Awards' which will recognise the contribution of individuals, groups and charities working in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.
Dean McKelvey commented, 'Over the ten years I have been here I have met some very remarkable people who year in, year out, give tremendous service to this community in a variety of ways. Earlier this year I was privileged to be recognised for my public service. It was an affirmative experience. "The Spire of Hope Awards" will endeavour to affirm those who are making a most worthwhile contribution to this society, and who are doing it without any monetary reward.
'Those recognised will also receive a cheque for £1,000 which will be made payable to a charity of their choice working within Northern Ireland or through an agency based there working abroad.
'Nominations will be sought in a number of categories and the first awards will be presented next February when the cheques from the annual Pre-Christmas Sitout at the Cathedral are distributed.'
Nominations close on December 15.
L-R: Dean Houston Mckelvey, Lady Christine Eames, Ernest Lawson, Colleen Shaw, Ken Patterson (Cathedral Treasurer)
(photo: Karen Bushby, Connor Diocesan Communications Officer)
At the launch of the Spire of Hope Awards, cheques were also presented to three charities:
Christian Aid for relief work in Pakistan through its related church agencies in that country.
Rotary International for the provision of Shelter boxes in disaster areas. These boxes contain a tent, sleeping bags, a small stove and basic cooking utensils. The Dean saw them in use in Sri Lanka after the tsunami, and on news coverage of the Haiti disaster, they were one of the first visible signs of response.
The NI Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital.
The cheques were received by Lady Eames for Christian Aid,
Ernest Lawson of Portadown Rotary Club and Colleen Shaw of the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital.
The cheques for Christian Aid and Rotary were donated in response to appeals at the Cathedral. That for the Cancer Centre was donated by people attending the funeral of former world snooker champion, Alex Higgins and the sale at the Cathedral of commemorative orders of services.
ENDS
For further information, contact:
The Dean of Belfast
Belfast Cathedral
Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2HB
Tel - 028 9032 8332