Havering’s Jack Petchey award winners celebrated in style at last night’s schools presentation held at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.

Some of the winners took host Sasha Hudson at her word by dancing on to the stage before being presented with their award medallions by VIPs, who included police inspectors Claire McCarthy and Chris Herd and Recorder editor Chris Carter.

They were then pictured with Havering deputy mayor Cllr Philippa Crowder while their achievements were read out by Sasha.

The audience were shown a video of foundation founder Jack Petchey’s life, which highlighted how he had turned his life round from an East End barrow boy to a multi-millionaire. He had been told he would never make anything of his life.

At the end of the evening Jack Petchey Foundation grants officer Nikki Casey told the audience she had not received any awards when she was at school because she hadn’t achieved like the students gathered at the theatre and been given the advice from someone like Jack.

Nikki added: “Next time you are told you can’t do something just do what Jack did and prove them all wrong.”

The schools whose students were presented with awards were: Corbets Tey, The Coopers Company and Coburn School, Dycorts, Frances Bardsley Academy, Sanders, Drapers, Gaynes, The Brittons Academy, Havering Sixth Form College, St Edwards, Abbs Cross and Emerson Park.

The talented performers who entertained the audience were: Frances Bardsley Academy Choir, Courtney Abrahams, Ashley Rowe, Nina Olawole and Drapers Academy Choir.