ONE OF OUR OWN
Reflections on his Teesside upbringing , the importance of community and a rallying call to businesses from guest speaker Mackenzie Thorpe proved a huge highlight of the inaugural Tees Business Awards .
Standing ovation – Mackenzie Thorpe delivered an inspirational speech before the inaugural Tees Business Awards .
Speaking about his childhood , and his pride in being from Teesside , renowned artist Mackenzie said : “ Middlesbrough is everywhere . We were called the titans of industry , the leviathans , the Ironopolis of the world – and wherever I go , I guarantee you I will meet Middlesbrough people .
“ Two months ago , I was at an exhibition in Key West and two people from Billingham walked in . They said , ‘ Eee , you haven ’ t lost your accent , have you ?’ I said , ‘ No , and I bloody well won ’ t either !’
“ Middlesbrough ’ s had hard times and it will have hard times like everybody else . But this family thing doesn ’ t go away . We always stick together and pick up our neighbours . We knock on their door – ‘ Are you all right , Mary ?’ We look after each other .”
Referring to his painting , The Boy That Didn ’ t Get a Ticket , which depicts a boy outside Boro ’ s old home ground , Ayresome Park , while a match is underway , Mackenzie said : “ At the top of the hill is a little boy and he ’ s really proud because he ’ s got his football kit on and his casey ball . He ’ s not at the match because he doesn ’ t have a ticket .
“ When I did that , I realised we all have a ticket . Some people might disregard it – ‘ don ’ t go to art college , get a proper job because you ’ ve got to give your mam money to put food on the table ’. But we ’ ve all got that ticket – it ’ s in your pocket .
“ There ’ s another saying – if we stand on the shoulders of giants , we can see for miles . There are giants and future giants in this room tonight who will pass on this ticket like a baton to the next generation because I hope and I believe we ’ re all doing this for the same reason – our children – so that Middlesbrough can grow .
“ I hear so many negative things about Middlesbrough . So many doors were closed on me because I ’ ve got this accent .
“ But I ’ ve done so many things and I ’ ll carry on doing those things . I met the Queen – she had my painting in her house .
I never thought that would happen to me ! I never thought the boy from St Paul ’ s Road , Middlesbrough , would be standing here tonight .”
And while Mackenzie admitted mixing with Teesside ’ s top businesspeople “ fills me with so much excitement ”, he said the “ foundation of love ” was key to all our futures .
To a standing ovation , he added : “ The foundations for every child , no matter their ability or disability , is not a pot of gold , a nice big car or the big TV – it ’ s the foundation of love .
“ You give your children everything for nothing in return . When I got into college in London , my mam gave me a corned beef sandwich and a £ 10 note . I got to London , I spent £ 6 on the bus and had nowhere to live . But she gave me everything she had and I live by that rule now .
“ And I hope you will go in our great community and build it and give all you have – that ’ s all anyone can ask for .”
AWARDS HOSTS
PAM ROYLE DL
Pam is a multi-award-winning journalist and TV presenter who is a well-known face in the North-East and North-West , having spent more than 30 years fronting programmes for ITV Tyne Tees and ITV Border . Her TV work has taken her to London , the USA , South Africa , Hong Kong and Scandinavia . Pam works independently as a presenter , interviewer , voiceover artist and script writer .
PETER BARRON MBE , DL
Peter , who hails from Middlesbrough , has been a journalist for 40 years and was the longest-serving editor of The Northern Echo before stepping down in 2016 , having been awarded the MBE in 2013 . He also edited the Hartlepool Mail and was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Society of Editors . He now runs his own media company and is a successful children ’ s author . He also serves as a deputy lieutenant of County Durham and is a regular broadcaster on BBC local radio .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 35