Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Double Whammy
George Michael tribute gig ‘blocked’ by family
GEORGE Michael’s family have quashed plans by Esther Rantzen to hold a tribute concert for the late star.
Plans for the gig have had to be shelved as they did not get the green light from the Wham! star’s estate. It’s a double blow for Childline founder Esther because money raised would have benefited the charity. Esther, 77, had started the process of securing the Royal Albert Hall. “There will no longer be a tribute concert because his family said no,” she said at the Pride of Britain awards on Monday night.
“It was a real shame as I’d have loved to celebrate his music and give the fans a chance to say goodbye – and it would have been to benefit his favourite charity, too. Once the family say no there’s nothing we can do.” Esther had talked of a tribute since his death last Christmas Day. George gave the proceeds of his 1996 hit Jesus to a Child to the charity. The BBC are also not allowed to put his last interview with Kirsty Young on Radio 2, 10pm tonight and next week, on iplayer. His estate said: “We don’t usually comment on private or business matters.”
THE Prime Minister is renowned for her fabulous footwear but she met her match when Pride of Britain winner Suzie Mccash visited Downing Street.
The sparkling purple trainers fiveyear-old Suzie wore on stage when she collected her Child of Courage award attracted numerous compliments.
She then praised Theresa May’s bright red heels as they compared footwear at No10 the day after the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB.
Suzie’s mum Rowena said: “She’s very impressed to meet the Prime Minister – she’s been talking to her about her shoes.”
Suzie, who saved Rowena’s life by dialling 999 after the mum went into anaphylactic shock, was among the winners who attended a Downing Street reception yesterday to recognise their remarkable achievements.
And she was not the only one who seized the opportunity to swap fashion tips with Mrs May.
Charity skydiver Dilys Price was keen to talk about her work with disabled people for her Cardiff charity The Touch Trust, but she still found time to admire the Prime Minister’s style.
Special Recognition winner Dilys, in a stylish multi-coloured blouse, said: “We share good dress sense.”
Hours after receiving their awards at Grosvenor House in London, our wonderful winners clutched their trophies as they were ushered through the famous black door of No10.
Mrs May posed for a photo with the group before chatting to each winner as they mingled and tucked into tea and sandwiches. It was not all small talk though. The PM listened to the concerns of the Grenfell community, winners of a Special Recognition award, and praised them for their remarkable response to the tower block inferno in West London that killed an estimated 80 people in June.
Pastor Derrick Wilson, 53, said: “I hope collecting this award means the public will remember what happened at Grenfell is still an ongoing issue.”
It was also an opportunity for survivors of the blaze to meet the firefighters who risked their lives dashing into the tower to rescue residents. The fire crews won the This Morning Emergency Services Award.
Mrs May also chatted with the firefighters before being reunited with Outstanding Bravery award-winning police officers Wayne Marques and Charlie Guenigault, with whom she shared the stage at the awards ceremony. In June, before armed back-up arrived on the scene, the officers protected the public by confronting the armed terrorists who stormed London Bridge.
Of the awards night, Charlie, 25, told her: “It was an emotional night. I definitely had a few teary moments.”
So too did Angela Clark and Michelle Palmer, who met the PM again after she presented them with a posthumous Outstanding Bravery award for their brother PC Keith Palmer, who was killed defending Parliament from terrorist Khalid Masood in March.
Teenager of Courage Moin Younis, who was honoured for helping other children despite suffering from an agonising condition that makes his skin split when touched, could not join the other winners.
But Mrs May shared a laugh with the police officers as they recalled how Moin, 17, cheekily asked England footballers Jamie Vardy and Jermain Defoe what they thought of manager Gareth Southgate – when he was standing right next to them.
It was one of many memories shared by the Pride of Britain winners,
It was emotional. I definitely had a few teary moments CHARLIE GUENIGAULT ON THE AWARDS NIGHT
who were still buzzing from the previous evening when they were joined by an army of celebs.
Forensic scientist Professor Lorna Dawson, 59, who received a Special Recognition award for helping solve hundreds of criminal cases, had only just recovered from her stage fright.
She said: “I have to give evidence to high court judges, but I’ve never been more nervous than last night.”
Orthopaedic surgeon Ibrar Majid, honoured with a Special Recognition award along with the other medics who treated victims of the bombing at the Manchester Arena in May, said: “Meeting so many wonderful people at the awards was a very humbling experience and a reminder to everyone that when we come together we are a truly great nation.”
Mr Majid said: “Talking about what happened that night in
Manchester brings back some awful memories. I saw things I never thought I’d see in this country. You would normally only see those types of injuries in disaster zones and war zones.
“But the medical staff were undeterred and were the most professional and compassionate I have ever seen.”
He said the resilience of those recovering from the injuries suffered that night “are truly an inspiration”.
Jake Coates, who won the ITV Fundraiser award for collecting £142,000 for The Royal Marsden Hospital with fiancee Emmy before she died of cancer, said: “Emmy would be so proud of all the winners.” Special Recognition winner Sarah Hope has campaigned for child amputees since her daughter Pollyanna lost her leg in a traffic accident. The Prime Minister was impressed with the 12-year-old’s pink prosthetic blade. “I love the colour,” Mrs May told her. Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser George Mathias took sevenyear-old brother James to meet the PM. George, 11, who has run 100 miles for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after its staff saved James’ life when he was a baby, said: “She was cool.” His little brother said: “I’m not sure who she is, but I know the No10 door.” Winners posed for photos by that famed door and got a bonus photo when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived.
The PM praised Lifetime Achievement winner Paul Stephenson, 80, for fighting racial discrimination.
“Sadly these things do still go on. But we will do everything we can to stop it,” she told him.
Mrs May told TSB Community Partner winner Fraser Johnston the awards makes us all “proud to be British”. Fraser, 20, who helps run a scheme in Falkirk taking elderly people from care homes for bike rides in the countryside, joked: “Well... proud to be Scottish. I’m thrilled the scheme is going to be rolled out through Scotland. I’m hoping the attention from winning an award means we can start taking it across the rest of the country.”
Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Katie Walker, 32, a domestic violence survivor who now runs a hair salon to help other victims, was left in tears when Sir Rod Stewart donated £10,000 to her business on the Pride of Britain stage. “I’m so glad you’re still here with us,” the PM told her.
I’m not sure who she is, but I know the No10 door GEORGE’S BROTHER JAMES ABOUT MRS MAY