TWO DESERVING young people from Saddleworth School are the latest recipients of the prestigious Lord Rhodes award.
The award is presented to a student, or in this year’s case two, to honour their achievements of going above and beyond what is expected of them.
The awards were presented by Cllr Pam Byrne, a Governor of the school and last year’s chairman of the Saddleworth Parish Council.
Pupils from throughout the school’s year groups were nominated by their teachers or home school leaders, with nine shortlisted for Cllr Byrne to pick a winner from.
She named Georgie White and Joseph Lamb as the winners, and they were presented with a certificate and gift certificate, as well as sharing the trophy.
Georgie, 16, was nominated by her teacher Ms Wolfenden for beginning to believe in herself and becoming more motivated about school and her education.
Georgie, who is going to Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale to study Media Makeup in September, said: “I am very happy to have won the award and I am very excited to start my course at college.”
Joseph, 15, from Diggle, was selected for overcoming adversity and showing strength of character after the death of his mum, Sarah, in September 2016.
The Year 10 pupil, who previously attended Holy Trinity School, Dobcross, said: “It has been a difficult time and I missed quite a lot of school.
“I had a lot of catching up to do but I think now I am at the same point as everyone else.
“I didn’t know there was an award like this but I am happy the school put me forward to receive it.”
Away from school, sports mad Joseph enjoys football and tennis.
Certificate and gift vouchers were also presented to the seven other pupils who were shortlisted for the award: Liam Badby, Mitchell Bryden, Eleanor Byrom, Jeremy Knight, Erin Mccorquodale, Alanna Rudd and Isabella Sanderson.
Presenting the awards, Cllr Byrne said: “The children have all done very well and should be very proud of themselves. Hopefully it will inspire them to go on and achieve even more.”
The award is in memory of Lord Rhodes, who was born 1895 on Manchester Road in Greenfield and attended St Mary’s School.
Overcoming a poor background, he went on to college, ran his own wool mill in Delph, and became an MP before eventually being given a life peerage.
This award is given annually to students who, like him, have excelled in real life hardships.
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