BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award

BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award

Inaugurated in 1996, the BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award is presented only in exceptional circumstances. It is awarded to individuals who have made a truly outstanding and significant contribution to the toy industry.

Recipients have facilitated positive and sustained change in the toy industry as a whole and are inspirational achievers who are widely acknowledged to have made a fundamental and beneficial impact on the sector over the long term. The individual will be recognised as a leading figure within the industry and they will have demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment, passion and integrity throughout their career and have served a minimum of 20 years service within the toy industry (not necessarily concurrent).

The award can be made to British and international recipients but he/she must have directly impacted or worked in the British toy industry. It can encompass work as a supplier, a retailer or anyone who has dedicated the majority of their career to the toy industry. Posthumous awards have been made for this award.

Recipients are presented by the BTHA with a specially commissioned bronze cast sculpture created by Ronald Cameron.

All nominations must have a proposer and a seconder and should be submitted in writing; a written statement summarising the candidates achievements and suitability should be sent to the Director General of the BTHA to be considered under the process used by the BTHA for this award.  For more information on the British Toy & Hobby Association Lifetime Achievement Award or to discuss the nomination process please contact Matt Jones

2017 Award – Roger Dyson of Toymaster

Roger Dyson’s career in the toy industry began in 1966 where his first job was with J&L Randall Ltd. He later went on to work for infamous toy companies; Airfix, Palitoy, Ertl Ltd, Toy Brokers and latterly with toy retailing group Toymaster. The award presentation was made on 28th June 2017 at a celebratory lunch at Great Fosters Hotel.

2016 Awards – Richard King, Joe Kissane, Jon Diver, Kiran Shah of Character Group

The four founding members of Character Group were each the recipients of the 2016 BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award. This was the first time that four people have been awarded the prestigious BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award on the same day, and the presentations were made on 29th June 2016 at a celebratory lunch at Great Fosters Hotel.

2015 Award – Gary Grant of The Entertainer

Gary Grant of The Entertainer was the recipient of the 2015 BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award. His award was presented at a celebratory lunch on 24th June 2015 at Great Fosters Hotel.

2012 Award – Alan Bennie and Nick Austin of Vivid Toy Group

Alan Bennie & Nick Austin of Vivid Toy Group were the recipients of the 2012 BTHA Lifetime Achievement Awards. Their awards were presented at a celebratory lunch on 20th June 2012 at Great Fosters Hotel.

2011 Award – Peter Brown of Flair Leisure Products

Peter Brown, CEO of Flair Leisure Products was awarded the 2011 BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award. Peter’s award was presented on 29th June 2011 at Great Fosters Hotel.

BTHA Lifetime Achievement Award winners 1996-2010

2010

Alan Munn

2009

Walter Lines

2007

John Hales, Christine Nicholls, Hilary Page

2006

Frank Hornby, Ian Scott

2005

David Rurka, Phil Shayer

2000

Alan Hassenfeld, Francis Spear, Kantaro Tomiyama

1999

Richard Beecham, Ralph Ehrmann

1998

Ole Kirk Christiansen, Leslie Smith

1997

Tom Cassidy, Torquil Norman

1996

Dennis Britain Arthur Katz