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Gurkha campaigner Lumley named Oldie of the Year
Actress Joanna Lumley was honoured for her Gurkha campaign when she was presented with the Oldie of the Year award today.
Each year, The Oldie, a humorous monthly magazine founded and edited by Richard Ingrams, recognises those of mature years for a range of efforts.
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Presenting Lumley with her prize at an awards ceremony at Simpson's-in-the-Strand in London, veteran broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan said: "We would like to award her for her for her relentless efforts and continuing campaigning for Gurkhas' rights and the Gurkha Justice Campaign."
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The Absolutely Fabulous star led a successful high-profile battle to win rights for Gurkhas who fought in the British Army.
Inspired by her soldier father, who served for 30 years as an officer
with the 6th Gurkha Rifles, the 63-year-old actress championed the cause of the Nepalese fighters.
After a series of marches, speeches and lobbying, the Government changed the immigration rules last May to allow all Gurkhas with four years' service to settle in the UK.
Lumley is no stranger to the Oldie awards, having won the Age Cannot Wither Her award in 2003.
Sir Terry, who has handed out the awards for a decade, found himself at the receiving end of a prize this year for Retirer of the Year.
The 71-year-old presented his final Radio 2 breakfast show last month before Chris Evans took over the slot.
As well as taking home special illustrations featuring caricatures of the winners, Lumley and Sir Terry, whose award was presented by Barry Cryer, each won a cruise with award sponsor Swan Hellenic.
Categories for the awards, founded in 1992, change every year - apart from the Oldie of the Year award, whose previous winners include Sir David Attenborough (2005), Tony Blackburn (2003) and Dame Thora Hird (1998).
Also awarded this year was author PD James, who was named Handbagger of the Year for her attack on BBC director general Mark Thomson when she guest-edited the New Year's Eve edition of the Today programme on Radio 4.
Baroness James said: "The BBC seems like a large, unwieldy ship, taking on more and more cargo, recruiting more officers, all very comfortably cabined, at salaries far greater than their predecessors, and with a crew somewhat discontented and mutinous; the ship sinking close to the plimsoll line, and the customers feeling they've paid too much for the journey, not sure where they're going or indeed who's the captain."
Her award was collected on her behalf by author Colin Dexter.
Other 2010 winners included Lady Caroline Cranbrook, whose protests against large supermarkets in small market towns earned her the title of Campaigner of the Year.
Backbencher of the Year went to Chris Mullin, Labour MP for Sunderland South.
Sir Terry said: "Chris Mullin is one of the 0.5% of the British population who still watches television in black and white on a set bought many years ago.
"While other MPs claimed expenses for the latest plasma screens and
142.50 for a colour TV licence, Mullin hung on to his old telly and claimed 48 for his black and white TV licence."
Quentin Blake, whose artwork is seen by millions in Roald Dahl's books, was named Illustrator of the Year for his 50-year career.
Chaired by Sir Terry, the judging panel consisted of Ingrams, columnist Quentin Letts, broadcaster Libby Purves and author Jane Thynne.
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