I was honoured to be a guest at this year's Addidi Inspiration Awards last month which celebrated inspirational women in history represented by some equally inspirational women of our time. The focus was on 'full of life' inspirational women who manage to lead amazing lives and achieve success while living life to the full and with a sense of fun.
I admit to being completely biased about two of my absolute favourite Real Funny Women who took part: the outstanding 'Lady Val' Corbett who is Director of the Hoxton Apprentice, a restaurant training long-term unemployed young people, and Associate Director of Training For Life, the charity which runs Apprentice restaurants, and Hela Wozniak Kay, the co-founder of Sister Snog, a selective business club that attracts and connects an eclectic mix of smart, savvy business women.
Val, who went on to win the overall vote and the Award, championed singer Marie Lloyd, queen of the music hall. Marie scandalised respectable society with her rebellious attitude, a string of love affairs and her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics (our kind of girl!). We were spared a performance of Marie's most famous songs 'My Old Man Said, Follow the Van' and her theme song 'A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good', but Val's gutsy performance had all the chutzpah needed for her clear win.
But, a very special mention for the wonderful Hela, who not only dressed for the part to champion the pioneering English aviator Amy Johnston, but also flew solo, without notes or lectern, to describe how brave Amy set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s including the first women to fly solo to Australia. Hela all but learned to fly a plane herself to prepare for her performance and has made a string of new friends in the aviation world. It might be advisable to duck when she takes to the skies – is that a bird, is it a plane, no it's Hela on her next loop de loop!
You can read about all the nominees HERE and find out more about ADDIDI. The Awards were organised by founder of Addidi, Anna Sofat, in part as a tribute to her brave daughter who died two years ago aged just 20. Anna was as inspirational as her guest speakers and the event was a fitting tribute to women and their resilience in times of stress. Thanks for the lovely pictures featured here and we look forward to Anna's next challenge! A bit of stand up perhaps…
Lynne Parker.
