Recognising EGGcellent local businesses
Past winners of the millennium egg, awarded to local people and organizations who have made a long standing contribution to the local economy, have been presented with certificates by Cllr Robert Humby, Winchester City Council’s Deputy Leader and new Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning and Economic Development.
The prestigious millennium egg is awarded each year at the glitzy Winchester Business Excellence Awards and is Winchester’s equivalent to the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Oscar for the local economy. During the tenth anniversary of awarding the egg, past winners are being given a keepsake of their time as holder of the Millennium Egg with a framed certificate and shield.
The ornate egg was crafted by Jeremy France Jewellers in 2000, who then donated it to Winchester City Council for use as an annual award. Previous award winners include: the late Graham Jamieson of the Wykeham Arms pub; Barbara Bryant who headed up the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry for many years; Hampshire Farmers’ Market; Winchester Hat Fair; Winchester Cathedral; Mohamed Bakhaty; Chris Turner of the Winchester Business Improvement District and last year Jim Sawyer of London Clancy. In 2012 the egg was awarded to Richard Steel of the family firm, Richard Steel and Partners.
Cllr Robert Humby, the Council’s Deputy Leader and new Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, commented,
This year is the tenth anniversary of the Egg being awarded, and I am marking the occasion by presenting previous winners with a token of our appreciation – a shield and certificate. The winners have had to hand the ornate millennium egg back to the Council after the award ceremony for safe keeping, and we hope the certificate will provide a more permanent reminder of our gratitude for the contribution they have made to Winchester’s economy.”
The millennium egg is displayed throughout the year with a collection of civic silver outside the Bapsy Conference Chamber at Guildhall Winchester.