Outstanding Achievement Award

WMFF Outstanding Achievement Award 2008 -

The Theme for 2008 was:-

To Encourage Young People to engage / take part in
Folk Art / Traditional activities in the
West Midlands Folk Federation Region.

The 2008 Award Winner is:-

St Mary's C E School, Banbury

Many congratulations to St Mary's and to the other nominees:-
 

Kieran Young
Cookley Sebright Primary School,
 (nr Kidderminster)

Winners St Mary’s CE Primary School, Banbury were presented with the 2008 Outstanding Achievement trophy by singer-songwriter Anna Ryder at Banbury Folk Festival on Saturday 11th October. Three nominations all had strong support but voters across the region recognised the ways in which St Mary’s engages pupils in seasonal folk activities and incorporates traditional song and dance into the curriculum and takes it into the community.
Head Teacher Stephen Wass was thrilled with the children’s performance on Saturday.

Their enthusiasm was infectious and this is exactly what Federation members hope to achieve, explains WMFF Chairman Amanda Collicutt, children enjoying the folk dance, music and song of our British culture and carrying on to become the performers of the future.

St Mary's won after voting took place across the region. They received a glass trophy. Runners up Kieran Young (a promising Irish dancer from Malvern) and Cookley Sebright Primary School (from near Kidderminster) will receive certificates. This is the third time the biennial Award has been presented for outstanding contributions and achievement in folk activity.

The previous winners are Bromsgrove Folk Club and Roy Palmer.
This award is sponsored by the West Midlands Folk Federation for different themes on a biennial basis, which is rotated over a ten year period so that various categories of people are recognized. Suggestions for future categories are welcomed by the officers.

WMFF Outstanding Achievement Award 2006 -

The West Midlands Folk Federation was proud to be able to present this award for Outstanding Achievement to the renowned folklorist, Roy Palmer, at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival in August 2006 by Amanda Collicutt, Chairman of WMFF.

Roy is a prolific writer and researcher of folk customs, including beer! His books range the folklore of the counties of England, folk songs, and many authoritative works on Sea Shanties.

WMFF Outstanding Achievement Award 2004 -

The West Midlands Folk Federation was proud to be able to present this award to Bromsgrove Folk Club