Page 107 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

Powerlist Awards

They’ve devoted their lives to helping,
educating and entertaining others. Here, we
honour five very special people…

By Joy Persaud

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Moira Stuart

Broadcaster and presenter

ith a raft of achievements and accolades United Nations Association, the Orange Prize for
under her belt, plus four decades Literature and the Grierson Trust.
Was a stalwart of broadcasting, this But despite such a long career and so many
year’s Powerlist Lifetime Achievement winner is tributes, Moira has not switched off her microphone.
undoubtedly a groundbreaker. Her distinctive voice, authoritative, clear and
In 1981, when Moira Stuart moved from mellifluous, can regularly be heard over the
various behind-the-scenes roles in airwaves. She has presented BBC1’s The
radio to television broadcasting, Holiday Programme and Have I Got
she became the first female News For You!, and presents the
newsreader of African and African news every morning on The Chris
Caribbean heritage in Britain. Evans Breakfast Show.
Moira presented a variety of BBC We had an insight into Moira’s
News bulletins, forging herself a background when she was
place as a household name and featured in the 2004 series of
a consummate professional. She the BBC’s popular documentary,
has won numerous awards for Who Do You Think You Are?
her work and for the contribution On the programme, in which
she has made as a black woman in celebrities are taken back through
an industry that has been criticised time with the help of genealogists
for lacking diverse role models. and historians who uncover family
As far back as the 80s – a hugely trees, we travelled with Moira as she
different climate to today’s more inclusive, or revisited her childhood and ancestors.
at least striving to be so, world – Moira was receiving Moira has roots in Dominica, Barbados, Bermuda,
recognition for her work. In 1988, the TV and Radio Edinburgh and England. Her great-grandfather,
Industries Club Awards voted her Best Newscaster George James Christian, was a barrister who strived
of the Year. A year later, the Women of Achievement to protect people in British colonies.
Awards named her Best Television Personality. The Moira’s grandfather, Edgar Gordon, spent three
Black Journalists’ Association named her the Best weeks voyaging to Scotland, where he met fellow
Female Television Personality in 1994 and the awards medical student – and future wife – Clara Christian.
have kept coming, with Moira being made an Officer Edgar later became a leading activist for Bermuda’s
of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 for her workers, as well as a parliamentarian and doctor.
service to news broadcasting. It is not surprising that Moira, with that
Renowned for her in-depth knowledge and background, has earned such a reputation for
expertise, Moira, 69, has been invited to serve on hard work, determination and enduring excellence
boards and judging panels including for Amnesty throughout her career, doubtless inspiring countless
International, The Royal Television Society, BAFTA, others with her own lifetime of achievement.

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