Lifetime in Play in London Award 2009
On Thursday 19 March 2009, Hanneke Nicholson was presented with London Play's 2009 Lifetime in Play in London Award.
Hanneke, who ‘lives and works' on Somerville Adventure Playground in Lewisham, was nominated by people from a wide range of local community organisations: 170 Community project, Ageing Well Fun Club, Edmund Waller Primary School, and New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities. An Independent Panel selected her for the Award, which attracts nominations from all over the UK but honours someone who has made a significant contribution to children's play in the capital.
The award was presented at a reception at the Houses of Parliament hosted by London Play Patron The Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury, and attended by more than 100 guests and well-wishers. The ceremony was kindly sponsored by Sutcliffe Play.
Melian Mansfield, Chair of London Play, says:
"We are absolutely delighted that Hanneke Nicholson has won this year's Lifetime in Play in London Award in recognition of the hugely influential work she has done for children over the past thirty years. The time and efforts she has devoted to enabling hundreds of children and young people to play at Somerville Adventure Playground will have changed their lives and their children's lives, giving them confidence, skills and aspirations they might never otherwise have developed."
Tributes have been flooding in from dozens of people, among them from Joan Ruddock, Member of Parliament, who said: "Many, many congratulations - so well deserved after so many years ‘at play'!"
One child said this about Somerville Adventure playground: "My name is Ozzy and I live locally. My Granddad was the one who built and started the playground in 1969 and five years later Hanneke came and worked there. My granddad said they were the perfect pair. The thing I like about the Adventure is that there is always something to do, play on the swings, table tennis, pool, climbing frames, zip line and more."
