The first ever celebratory lunch for the Honorary Achievement winners from The Licensing Awards and the Brand Licensing Ambassadors from the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards took place yesterday (20 November).
23 recipients of the accolades joined Max Publishing’s Ian Hyder (ceo), Jakki Brown (md), Rob Willis (coo) and Samantha Loveday (group editor) at The Crown Tavern in Clerkenwell for an afternoon of celebration.
Welcoming everyone, Jakki said: “Of all of the trophies that are presented at The Licensing Awards and the B&LLAs, the presentation of the Honorary Achievement and Brand Ambassador accolades provide a fitting finale to each awards ceremony. They acknowledge the huge contribution that some very special individuals have made to our industry, through their heartfelt commitment, professional integrity, passion, innate nous and total belief in what licensing IP can achieve in bringing joy and generating income for many.
“How wonderful that we have so many of those very special people in this room today. You are the inspiration for the future award recipients.”
From the Licensing Honorary Achievement Hall of Fame, attending were Nicholas Durbridge and Linda Pooley who were presented with the award in 2007; Mike Redfern who received it in 2008; Trevor Jones followed in 2009; Andrew Lane, the recipient in 2010; David Aykroyd in 2012; David Scott in 2014; Ian Downes in 2016; Anthony Temple in 2017; John McInnerny in 2020; Angela Hall in 2021; Stephen Gould in 2022; Danny and Mark Schweiger in 2023; and Richard Hollis at this year’s awards event.
Ian commented: “Our first ever Licensing Awards took place in 2006 and Richard Culley, co-founder of CPLG was the recipient of the inaugural Honorary Achievement Award. Unfortunately, Richard is away this week and so couldn’t make it here today.
“Also sending their apologies are Laurence Prince, founder of Danilo and Keith Chapman, creator of PAW Patrol and Bob the Builder among other IP who received Honorary Achievement awards in 2015 and 2018 respectively.”
There was also almost a full house of B&LLAs Brand Ambassadors, with only Maxine Lister, head of licensing at the Natural History Museum and the recipient in 2023, unable to attend.
Angela Farrugia, was the first winner, back in 2016, followed by Jane Evans in 2017; Richard Pink in 2018; Lauren Sizeland in 2019; Will Stewart in 2020; Daniel Avener in 2021; Adam Bass in 2022; and Louise French was crowned Brand Licensing Ambassador at this year’s B&LLAs.
Jakki continued: “But that is not the full picture as some of our wonderful honourees are sadly no longer with us. Gone but far from forgotten are John Sinfield who received the award posthumously in 2011, Pauline Lonsdale in 2012, Kelvyn Gardner in 2013 and Patrick Bailey in 2019. Their legacies live on.”
Further coverage from the afternoon will be published in the spring 2025 edition of Licensing Source Book, while attendees also filmed some video shorts with Sam and Nicola Webster (Max Publishing’s social media manager) – sharing everything from the best advice they ever received through to where their trophies are kept – which will appear across social media from early 2025.
You can also check out some pictures from the afternoon by clicking on this link.
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