The Hotspur Award is given to a person who has “through bold endeavour” done something to benefit or raise the profile of the North East.

Nominations are taken from the general public.

The award which is held for a year, takes the form of a silver spur. This is named after Harry Hotspur, son of the first Earl of Northumberland, a Northumbrian hero famed for his valour and energy.

The actual award has been crafted by a local silversmith and is a direct copy of the famous Charlton spur which is at Hesleyside in North Tynedale. Legend says that when the larder was empty the lady Charlton would bring out a platter which only held a spur; the message was, ride out and steal some cattle if you wish to eat. The picture by William Bell Scott at Wallington captures the scene.

This award has been won by a very interesting and diverse number of winners.

An early winner was Frank Atkinson, Mr Beamish, the man behind the establishment of the popular Beamish open air museum, BEAMISH, the Best Example Anywhere of a Museum of Industrial and Social History.

Other winners include Brendan Forster of the Great North run, the Duchess of Northumberland for the Alnwick garden, Lee Hall creator of Billy Elliott, and Gateshead MBC for their cultural developments such as The Angel of the North, The Baltic, the Sage and Saltwell Park.

Nominations

You may nominate whoever you wish. Just write the name of the person you propose and a sentence or so, as to why they deserve the award. It would be helpful if you also included your own name and address, as a prize will be awarded to one of the proposers of the successful nomination. Please do it today or this week, as judging will take place later in May for the winner to be announced at a special dinner in June.