Winners - 2001

For the person who, over their lifetime, has made an outstanding contribution to the community of Yorkshire. Sponsored by the Yorkshire Society

Baroness Betty Boothroyd - Lifetime Achievement Award 2001

One-time Filey holiday camp beauty queen and ex-high-kicking dancer, Dewsbury-born Betty Boothroyd went on to become the country’s first woman Speaker of the House of Commons in 1992.

Famed for her immortal phrase “Right, times up” at the end of her first Prime Minister’s Question Time, she finally called time on her Commons career in July 2000.

In her eight years in the hot seat Betty gained a reputation as having an iron hand in a velvet glove and being described by one political commentator as being like a ‘headmistress, nanny and pub landlady’ all rolled into one!

It is beyond doubt that she has left an indelible mark on the history of British politics, hence her Yorkshire Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sponsored by the Yorkshire Society and presented by David Daniel, chairman of the Yorkshire Society.