Society bestows bold recognition on Teesside

Teesside University has been honoured by the Northumbrian Association for its inspirational involvement in raising the profile of the region.

The charitable organisation has named the University as a winner of its Hotspur Award for Bold Endeavour. The award is a silver spur, which the University holds for one year.

The award is bestowed annually to two recipients, an individual and an organisation, in recognition their involvement in helping to promote the area.

The charity strives to promote the region’s Northumbrian heritage, in an area stretching from the Tees Valley to the Tweed.

John Danby, Chairman of the Northumbrian Association said: 'The University received a good representation of nominations from the Teesside area, along with other areas further afield.

'Past winners have included athlete Brendan Foster, former footballer Niall Quinn and Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley, who are all inspirational people.

Teesside University is a worthy recipient 'We consider that Teesside University is a worthy recipient of this award. The title of University of the Year has done much to raise both its own and the region’s profile.'

The individual recipient of the award was Andrew Dixon, former Chief Executive of Northern Arts and Arts Council England and former boss of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, which promotes the area as a place to live and work.

Mr Danby added: 'We use the term Northumbria to apply to North East England from the valley of the Tees to the Tweed. We believe that moving our historic culture into the mainstream of regional life can play a vital role in regeneration.'

Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor of Teesside University, said: 'What’s important about this award is that we were nominated by other people in the region. This isn’t something you put yourself forward for. And I think an award for ‘bold endeavour’ captures the ‘can-do’ spirit of everyone at Teesside.'

The association is a registered charity which aims to promote Northumbrian culture. An all-party group of the Northumbrian Association has been formed in the House of Commons to represent these views at the highest level.

The association is also involved in a campaign for the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North East from The British Library in London.

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