LIFESTYLE-Magazine-Winter-2016

The happy and proud day Julie Hesmondhalgh became Freeman of the Borough of Hyndburn

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f you ever spot Julie Hesmondhalgh herding pigs up Abbey Street there’s no need for alarm. This is just one of the many benefits bestowed on the Accrington actress aer being made a Freeman of the Borough of Hyndburn. During the gliering ceremony – which Julie wasn’t expecting – her life and career were celebrated by friends, family, teachers and colleagues from present and past. “I was dead chuffed and really honoured because Accy is really special to me,” says Julie. “I didn’t realise it was going to be such a big deal. I thought the mayor would give me a certificate or something in the council offices.” The evening was arranged by Michael Cunliffe at the council. Adds Julie: “The poor bloke. I kept messing him around with the dates because of work and stuff. I drove him mad. Lile did I know that behind the scenes this huge evening was being planned, where the most incredible things were happening for me.” “They had drummers frommy old secondary school, Moorhead, and dancers from St Christopher’s came and did a whole scene from the Lion King.” “But possibly one of my favourite bits of the night was when some theatre students came fromAccy College and did some bits fromSimon Stephens’ plays.” In a moving tribute to Julie’s late dad; a leer he had once sent to her primary school, Hyndburn Park, was found and projected on to the screen. Adds Julie: “Hyndburn Park had found the leer in their old files that he’d wrien toMrs. Bennet the then head teacher of the infant school. It was emotional to see dad’s writing on this special paper he always used, just saying, ‘Thank you for all the help and guidance you have given to Dave and Julie for seing them up in life.’ Then they got four children fromHyndburn Park; these four absolutely gorgeous kids, to recite the leer in unison and really cute voices.” One of Julie’s most inspirational teachers fromAccrington College was there to watch his former student being honoured in Hyndburn. “Martin Cosgrif was an amazing tutor,” she says. “He taught us everything he knew to make it seem possible for us to be able to go to drama school and lead a different kind of life and become actors. He had so much faith in us all. While I was at the London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts, there were five of us fromAccrington at the same time. That is just a testament to his talent.” Julie adds: “Those years between 16 and 18 were formative for me and where I found myself. Siing in Elmfield Street with my new theatre studies friends, listening to Mozart, eating biscuits, puing the world to rights…it was at Accrington College that I met some of my greatest friends, friends for life.” In her speech to guests Julie mentioned some special people in her life including Sylvia Lancaster and all at the Sophie Lancaster Trust for their inspiring work.

Another special mention went toMaundy Relief and the late, inspirational, Dorothy McGregor. Julie says: “I had to thank Dorothy McGregor who was Freeman of the Borough; who as you know, set upMaundy Relief and was a great friend of mine. She taught us all about real love and giving and charity. Their incredible work continues today, led by the wonderful Lucy Hardwick who carries on the legacy to this day.” At the end of the evening Julie told all the youngsters who had performed for her: “Every time you’re creative, every time you sing, or write a song, or dance, or choreograph, or bang a drum, or sketch a portrait, scribble a poem or act a part, you are making the world a beer place. Art is not an indulgence or a luxury. It’s an essential part of living.”

Dorothy McGregor of Maundy Relief was a great friend of mine

Above: Julie becomes a Freeman of the Borough in 2015. Right: Julie back in Lancashire after filming Broadchurch.

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