Pupils were urged to take advantage of whatever opportunities may come their way by Granada TV presenter Lucy Meacock at the 2019 Cheshire Schools Awards.
Chester resident Lucy - who is celebrating her 30th anniversary on flagship North West news programme Granada Reports - gave out this valuable advice as she hosted the fifth schools awards ceremony, organised by Reach plc and sponsored by Excell Supply Ltd.
Speaking to an audience of headteachers, teachers, support staff and pupils at The Queen Hotel in Chester on Tuesday (June 11), the TV presenter said: "You can achieve anything you want to achieve. Just be alert to all possibilities and opportunities and who knows what might happen."
Lucy reminisced about deciding to become a journalist at the age of 12, something she achieved when she turned 18 and was given a job on the Chester Chronicle, later moving on to Granada TV where she admitted she knew very little about working in television.
"I was very shy at first and looked like a frightened rabbit in the headlights but I practiced and practiced and they let me get away with it!"
The afternoon began with an address from Cheshire Live and Chester Chronicle print editor Michael Green who welcomed everyone to the event and talked about the extraordinary work that goes on in our schools, often against tremendous odds.
He said: "Issues such as budget cuts despite increasing pupil numbers, problems with recruitment of new staff and retention of experienced teachers, the impact of the new GCSE grading system, the continuing debate over academies and free schools - the list of challenges must sometimes seem endless and overwhelming.
"So it is about time credit was paid to people like you, who keep our schools running day after day, who have to cope with often impossible situations while preparing the children of today to become the adults of tomorrow.”
Both Lucy Meacock and Michael Green paid tribute to the late Dianne Oxberry, the BBC North West TV presenter who hosted the Cheshire Schools Awards during its first four years but who died suddenly in January following a short battle with ovarian cancer.
The editor said: "I know she loved playing such a major part in this initiative and her radiant smile and sunny personality lit up these proceedings and she won the hearts of everyone who attended.”
The audience was then treated to a superb performance of two songs by the talented Brine Leas School Boys' Choir before everyone enjoyed their lunch.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
School in the Community Award:
Winner: St Werburgh's and St Columba's Primary School
Runners-up: Oxfam Youth Group at Upton-by-Chester High School
Sixth form leadership team at Queen's Park High School.
Communication Award:
Winner: The Podcast Team at Eaton Bank Academy
Runners-up: The Blazer at The King's Junior School
Sir William Stanier School
School Support Staff of the Year:
Winner: Jill Sadat-Shafai of Congleton High School
Runners-up: Steve Hopkinson of Saughall All Saints C of E Primary School
Leanne Robins of Tarporley C of E Primary School.
Class/Team of the Year:
Winner: Year 10 Stem Club at Queen's Park High School
Runners-up: Brine Leas School Boys' Choir
Year 10 biology class at Chester International School
Inspirational Teacher Award:
Winner: Rachael Borman of St Werburgh's and St Columba's Primary School
Runners-up: Sandra Barton of Neston High School
Simon Parker of Queen's Park High School.
Healthy Living Award:
Winner: Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen of St Peter's Catholic Primary School
Runners-up: #SAS Dance Squad of Saughall All Saints Primary School
Girls Football Team at Lache Primary School.
Headteacher of the Year:
Winner: David Wearing of Kelsall Primary School
Runners-up: Stephanie Cade of Childer Thornton Primary School
Kate Unsworth of Chester International School.
Primary School of the Year:
Winner: Saughall All Saints C of E Primary School
Runners-up: St Theresa's Catholic Primary School
Meadow Community Primary School.
Secondary School of the Year:
Winner: Upton-by-Chester High School
Runners-up: Chester International School
Congleton High School.
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