John Hurt Receives Prestigious AoC Gold Award

LONDON, June 9, 2011 -

- With Photo

International film star John Hurt CBE said he is 'forever grateful' for
the time he spent in further education as he picked up an Association of
Colleges' Gold Award at the House of Commons yesterday (8 June).

The BAFTA-winning actor studied Fine Art at Grimsby Art School, now The
Grimsby Institute, in Lincolnshire, from 1956 to 1958.

He shared the stage with four other winners who each received AoC Gold
Awards in recognition of their status as successful college alumni and as
role models for hundreds of thousands of students.

The awards illustrate the range and diversity of the work of Further
Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges and the positive impact that they
have on their students' lives.

Famous for films such as The Elephant Man and The Naked Civil Servant,
John went on to study drama and is recognised as one of the finest actors of
his generation. His career has spanned some 50 years, won him many acting
awards and created a legacy of more than 100 films and countless stage and TV
appearances.

John Hurt said: "On reflection, my two years at Grimsby School of Art
were not just necessary but of imperative importance. For this period of my
education, I am forever grateful."

The other Gold Award winners are:

- Conservative Party Chairman, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, nominated by
Kirklees College, Yorkshire

- Stewart Milne CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Stewart Milne
Group, nominated by Aberdeen College, Scotland

- Paul Burgess, Head Groundsman with Real Madrid football club, nominated
by Myerscough College, Lancashire

- Entrepreneur Adeem Younis, founder of SingleMuslim.com, nominated by
Wakefield College, Yorkshire

Lord Willis of Knaresborough, President of the AoC Charitable Trust said:
"The AoC Gold Awards are proof of the excellent work done by students and
their colleges across a variety of sectors; they demonstrate that, no matter
what your aspirations, further education can make a significant contribution
to your future success. I'd like to extend my congratulations to John Hurt,
and to all of this year's exceptional winners, who demonstrate how far
students can go when their talent and ambition is both recognised and
nurtured."

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk

For further information contact AoC press officer Helen Galley at
helen_galley@aoc.co.uk, +44(0)207-034-9973 or visit the newsroom page on
the website at www.aoc.co.uk

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