Dr John Roberts CBE QC Achievement awards

Friday evening’s temperature may well have been around 20 degrees, but primary and senior school boys all wore shirt and ties for the annual prestigious awards event. Girls and young ladies too dressed up for the occasion. Smart dress, good manners and high achievers were in abundance for the 9th Dr John Roberts CBE QC award ceremony run by Margaret Noel and her ‘Descendents’ campaign.

A cursory glance at their website gives you a feel about what they are trying to achieve. Their motto for young people is:

Education is our right. We strive for excellence. We are talented, ambitious and gifted young people. We aim for the sky. With your support and help we will achieve our full potential."

The name of the awards is from local hero, now retired Dr John Roberts CBE QC. It was in 1988 he became the first Queen’s Counsel of African descent. He was awarded a CBE in 2011 for his tireless work in areas of justice and equality.

During the ceremony I sat along side Tony Roberts, John’s son who, with Mrs Roberts was attending his father who is now a little unwell but nevertheless did not want to miss the ceremony.

During my short address I informed the 200 strong audience that:

"Dr Roberts had passed the baton of fighting for justice, and achieving success on to me, and I was passing in on to you. We demand your success."

One young man who should successfully make that transition was Tariq. The local MP Angie Bray mentioned him to me.

"When I visited a local school, he asked difficult questions and now he’s informed me that he passed his politics exam. I’m going to offer him an internship at my office for his tenacity"

I told Tariq, I’ll make sure that it happens.

And that’s what the whole evening was about: celebrating and encouraging high achievers.

This little project is making a big impact to literally hundreds of school children across Ealing.

Simon Woolley