Browne Burns Call
Friday 1st February 2008
Local MP Des Browne is calling upon the people of Kilmarnock and Loudoun to make nominations for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award.
The Award, now in its seventh year, is presented to someone who has saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole.
Des said:
“I am in doubt that there will be people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun who are deserving of this award. As we all know there is a strong local Burns connection particularly in Kilmarnock, Mauchline and Newmilns. There are many constituents who could be in contention for this award through their own personal sacrifice or charitable work.
Fittingly there is a strong Ayrshire feel to these awards with the judging panel led by Ayrshire-born chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Tom McKillop and the presentation ceremony itself being held in Ayr. I would encourage my constituents to get their nominations in before the deadline on 29 February. What better chance to see ourselves as others see us.”
The winner of the award will receive 1759 guineas (the equivalent of around £1,800 today), signifying the year of the bard’s birth and the coinage then in circulation. They will also receive a specially commissioned award by a Scottish artist, at a ceremony to be held in Ayr on 17 May, kicking off the 2008 burns an’ a’ that! festival.
Previous recipients of the award have included John Sulston, a major influence on the landmark Human Genome Project and civil rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith. Last year’s award winner Adi Roche is the founder of the Chernobyl Children’s Project International. Roche’s efforts over the past 15 years have initiated 16 aid programmes and delivered humanitarian and medical aid valued at over $50M to the areas most affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
If you would like to nominate someone for the 2008 award visit www.robertburnsaward.com.
Ends
