Queen’s award for Pendle Hippodrome Theatre

The voluntary group who work in the community to promote and improve public education in performing arts has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The theatre in Colne gives people the chance to take part in or observe many aspects of the performing arts.

Through their own youth group – Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre – which is open to all, they educate and encourage young people to experience the performing arts.

They are committed to the preservation, use and development of their unique theatre in the interest of the arts, culture and heritage. Working on a self-funded and voluntary basis they encourage everyone to take part in their activities and they come up with great performances.

Kevin and Gillian Mason from the theatre attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace last week where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award.

The Hippodrome is one of 187 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups nationally to receive the prestigious award this year.

The award was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Pendle Hippodrome will receive it from the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire this summer.

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Ltd chairman Kevin Mason said: “We were all delighted when we received notification of the nomination for this year’s award.

“To actually win the award is fantastic and a great achievement – not for the theatre but for the hundreds of volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours of their time through the years to help us in our goal of providing performing arts and in the preservation and enhancement of the theatre building for the cultural heritage of the local community.

“We would like to thank our local MP Mr Stephenson for nominating us for the award and the referees for supporting his nomination.

“What we urgently need now is for more volunteers to come forward to help in our goals and continue our work long into the future.

“It’s not all about performing – we have volunteer opportunities in all aspect of theatre work, backstage, wardrobe, make-up, front of house stewards, bar staff and general maintenance to name but a few. If you think this is something you may be interested in please get in touch.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “I am delighted Pendle Hippodrome have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2015. As a huge fan of their work, I was very pleased to support their nomination. Well done, everyone involved!”