04 Nov 2013
War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, OBE, former Children’s Laureate and best-selling author of over 130 books for children received last night an Honorary Famous Belgian Award from the Belgian Tourist Office - Brussels & Wallonia during the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Annual Awards Dinner at The Savoy in London.
Michael Morpurgo’s grandfather was the eminent Belgian scholar, poet and playwright Emile Cammaerts who settled in England in 1908. During World War I he became known for his poems, among which were Chants patriotiques et autres poèmes (1915; Belgian Poems) and Poèmes intimes (1922).
Michael Morpurgo was invited on stage to receive the award by Françoise Scheepers, director of the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels who said that he was living proof of how the histories of both Belgium and Great Britain are connected. During the event which it sponsored, the Belgian Tourist Office- Brussels & Wallonia, in the run up to the centenary of WW1 in 2014, was highlighting the common history shared by French-speaking Belgium and Great Britain during the Great War.
The award, in the form of a crystal trophy made in Liège, was handed over to him by Céline Buckens, a British actress of southern Belgian origin who played the part of Emilie in the film adaptation of War Horse by Steven Spielberg.
Michael Morpurgo, who also received a stylized portrait, said how honored he was to be reconnected to his Belgian roots, adding that the award would have been something that his grandfather, whom he remembered having spent time with as a child, would have been proud of. He went on to read Le Drapeau Belge, a moving poem reflecting on the Belgian flag, written in French by his grandfather.
In addition, the event featured Tim Van Eyken, the original Song Man from War Horse, also of Belgian origin, and the iconic equine star of the show – Joey, puppeteered by David Emmings (Joey Head), Stuart Angell (Joey Heart) and Ben Thompson (Joey Hind).
Also present were Christos Doulkeridis, Minister in Charge of Tourism for Brussels, Tommy Leclercq, Governor of the Province of Hainaut, and Nicolas Martin, acting Mayor of Mons, as well as representatives from the National Theatre in London.
A raffle was organised on the night for the benefit of the Belgian Tourist Office’s chosen charity The Not Forgotten Association, which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick and for ex-servicemen and women with disabilities. It raised a total of £3,699.00, the largest amount ever raised in a raffle at one of the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards dinners.
Ends
Sophie Bouallègue
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020 7531 0392
www.belgiumtheplaceto.be
Copyright of Images: © V. Challeux-Belgiumtheplaceto.beTM
Editors notes
The Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels and Wallonia
The Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels& Wallonia in London is responsible for promoting the French-speaking regions of Belgium, which include Brussels and Wallonia in the South of Belgium. In 2014 the destination will be marking the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. The town of Liège was the first in Belgium to be attacked, while the town of Mons saw the very first battle between the British and the German forces. Plugstreet is the site where the football truce of December 1914 took place.
The Honorary Famous Belgian AwardTM
The Honorary Famous Belgian Award was created by the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels and Wallonia in London, mainly as a tongue-in-cheek response to the usual “name 5 famous Belgium” joke. David Suchet, who portrays the famous detective from Wallonia Hercule Poirot was the first recipient of the award in 2010.
The National Theatre’s War Horse
The National Theatre’s record breaking theatre phenomenon, War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s much loved novel has now been seen by over 4 million people worldwide since its premiere at the National Theatre in 2007 and continues its hugely successful run at the New London Theatre in the West End. It is now in its sixth year in London and tickets are currently on sale until October 2014.
Celine Buckens
Céline Buckens is a British actress of Belgian origin. She played the part of Emilie - a young French girl who lives on a farm with her grandfather and looks after the horses Joey and Topthorn before they are taken by the German army - in Spielberg’s film adaptation of War Horse. She also models, and was nominated for the Best Female Newcomer at the 2012 Jameson Empire Awards. She is currently pursuing her career as an actress while studying for her A levels.
The British Guild of Travel Writers
The British Guild of Travel Writers was formed in 1960. Its members include journalists, authors, editors, photographers and broadcasters.
