The 2015 Researcher of the Year Awards took place in Parliament on the 2nd March and was attended by MPs, parliamentary staff and journalists.
John Bercow hosted the ceremony in the Speaker’s House, where he resides with his family and which includes the state bedroom, where traditionally the monarch slept before the Coronation.
It was the ninth year of the awards, which recognise excellence among staff who support the work of parliamentarians in a variety of roles.
The most prestigious prize of the night, Researcher of the Year, was won by Lynda Birch; Constituency Office Manager for Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue.
On receiving the award she said it was “really unusual” for her to be in the limelight and thanked Ms Fovargue for giving her “an opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Ms Birch also won the Constituency Staff Member of the Year award, which was presented by parliamentary journalist Tony Grew.
Mr Grew paid tribute to the work done by MP’s staff outside Westminster.
He said: “When you are here at Westminster you often forget that there are thousands of people in constituency offices across the country embedded in their communities and people who deeply care about their constituents that they deal with every day.”
Among the MPs presenting awards were Liberal Democrat and former assistant Government whip Jenny Willott, Shadow Civil Society Minister Lisa Nandy, Conservative MP and Chairman of 1922 committee Graham Brady and Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Elfyn Llywd.
Labour’s Lisa Nandy named Andrew Forsey, who is secretary to the APPG on Hunger and Food Poverty under Frank Field, as Labour Researcher of the Year.
Working with Mr Field, he said, was “a privilege and an honour and a humbling experience.”
Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott, accompanied by her son Joshua, highlighted the importance of the relationship between parliamentarians and their employees.
“I couldn’t cope without my staff and I know that all MPs feel the same,” she said.
Ms Willott presented the Liberal Democrat Researcher of the Year Award to Laura Macleod, who works for Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle.
Ione Douglas, Secretary and Senior Caseworker for Dr Liam Fox MP took the Conservative prize, which was introduced by Graham Brady.
Ms Douglas expressed her shock at receiving the award, saying she had “no degree and no education but I have a very good boss and lots of lovely constituents and a very good team.”
The award for Crossbench or Other Parties’ Researcher of the Year was presented by Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llywd to Andrew McCullough, who works for the SDLP in Westminster.
This was followed by a new category for In House Staff Member of the Year which sought to celebrate a person or team working in any area of Parliament and was voted for by researchers and caseworkers.
Terrace Cafeteria staff Betty Thompson and Rita Aderiye claimed the prize and were popular winners among the gathered guests.
The Speaker congratulated the pair, saying they worked “with a smile and a friendly word and a willingness to engage and you’re wonderful representatives of the House and we appreciate it.”
The Federation of Small Businesses, who sponsored the ceremony, bestowed their Special Award for a researcher who had demonstrated a sound understanding of small businesses in their work on Sally Stevens, Senior Researcher to Conservative MP Mary Macleod.
National Chairman of the FSB John Allan said he was “proud of the Federation, that we are able to sponsor this event and celebrate the hard work of everyone in this room.”
Bringing the evening to a close Mr Bercow said: “It’s been a magnificent set of winners in categories hotly contested by people who have come to value the significance of these awards.”