Off to the House of Commons!

Published on 11.06.14

It’s early in the morning and I have agreed to meet Christian’s train from Swansea bright and early at Newport station.  We (I’m on the left, above, with Christian and his family) are off to London for the day; not just London, but off to the House of Commons to sip champagne and eat nibbles

It’s early in the morning and I have agreed to meet Christian’s train from Swansea bright and early at Newport station.  We (I’m on the left, above, with Christian and his family) are off to London for the day; not just London, but off to the House of Commons to sip champagne and eat nibbles on the terrace overlooking the Thames. This is the day that the AoC gold Awards are being presented.

AoC Awards Hereford College of Arts

The train drew into Paddington Station at 12.30 pm and we decided to head straight to Westminster – it’s not a tube stop that I frequent regularly so it gave me quite a giggle.

Westminster was packed with tourists and we decided to do the most touristy thing we could before heading off to the House of Commons, and went up in the London Eye.  The views were extraordinary, but we couldn’t help noticing all the connections of how the Eye was joined, the tautness of the wire and the whole structural engineering of it.

Heading off the House of Commons we were surrounded by architectural ironwork in every direction.  Security was pretty stringent as we entered the House of Commons and I can’t help thinking it’s probably the only time that I will ever be there.

AoC Awards BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing

It was great for Christian to see the awards being given. It’s one thing being responsible for designing and making an object, but seeing the life it takes on after you have made it is quite extraordinary, especially when you make something like an award. There they were on the podium with huge flower arrangements behind them and everyone buzzing around excited about who was going to win.  I think it was quite overwhelming for Christian to see what he had made in that context.

The speeches started and Christian had lots of acknowledgement for being the designer/maker of the awards, and we saw all the awards presented, this year the winners of the 2014 AoC Gold Awards were:

• Gloria de Piero, MP for Ashfield and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
• Toni Pearce, President of the national Union of Students
• Dr Munira Mirza, Deputy London Mayor, Culture and Education
• Rob Forkan, co-founder of Gandys flip flops
• Anton Piotrowski, chef and joint winner of Masterchef: The Professionals
• Martin Brundle, Formula One Driver and TV Presenter and Commentator
• Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the Guardian
• Christopher Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, Burberry

What a great day!  How exciting to win such a high profile national competition. Well done Christian. Great work!

Del