Downing Street celebrations for contribution to the community

The Stateroom at No 11 Downing Street was hosting the 2025 Times Sternberg Active Life Awards.

- By Judith Potts

Delicious dainty sandwiches and cakes were being served, the sun was shining and the room was filled with happy people.

Politics were forgotten for the day, as we listened to Michael Sternberg KC describing the purpose of the Awards which his Father - Sir Sigmund Sternberg - had created with Times Newspapers in 2008.

These Awards are given annually to 'celebrate outstanding contributions of people to their community and to public life, made after their 70th birthday'.

To my utter astonishment, the judges had chosen to give me one of this year's six awards.

THE WINNERS

I listened to Baroness Altmann as she spoke about the work of the other five winners and marvelled at what they had achieved.

The overall winner was Dr Denis Durno MBE - aged 89 and a retired GP - who founded The Bread Maker in Aberdeen, which provides meaningful work for adults with learning difficulties. He has helped 200 people, including his own two sons, both of whom have cerebral palsy.