Volunteers who have helped to reveal Chinatown’s history in London have been recognised for their exceptional service to the UK’s heritage sector.
The Heritage Hero Storyteller Award, one of two Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero Awards1, celebrates the Chinatown History Champions’ contribution in revealing the neighbourhood’s heritage, engaging visitors through storytelling, and contributing to anti-racism work in Chinatown, London through engaging walking tours.
Sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, the Heritage Heroes Awards, now in their 13th year, are the Heritage Alliance’s celebration of the outstanding contribution Britain’s heritage volunteers make to society.
Volunteers are vital for the protection of England’s heritage. From caring for rural heritage sites to engaging the next generation of visitors, volunteers’ skills, passion, and commitment are the backbone of the heritage sector.
The awards were presented by Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical and each of the winners received an Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero 2022 winner presentation plaque.
The awards ceremony coincided with Heritage Day2, a key event in the heritage sector calendar, with speakers including the Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson, René Olivieri, Chair of the National Trust, and Peter Aiers OBE, Master and Chief Executive of The Charterhouse.
Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical, said: “As the leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings in the UK, we’re passionate about Britain’s heritage. We’re proud to sponsor the Heritage Heroes Awards, and this year celebrates two incredibly deserving winners for their outstanding contribution to the heritage sector. Congratulations to the Chinatown History Champions!”
Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO at the Heritage Alliance, said: “It has been truly inspiring this year to see so many examples from across the breadth of our sector of the formidable contribution of heritage volunteers to preservation, engagement and access. Chinatown History Champions showcases how volunteers working together are critical ambassadors of the role heritage has to play to catalyse diverse communities.”
Sau Hing Au, on behalf of the Chinatown History Champions, said: “As a team of volunteers, we’ve each made time to understand many of the multi-layered Chinatown stories, and we take great pleasure in telling these stories to others. Receiving an award for our contribution is special. We are delighted that our collective efforts to share Chinatown’s stories are being recognised and are grateful to everyone involved.”
