![Woman of the Year chair Catherine Roe Woman of the Year chair Catherine Roe](/sites/default/files/styles/single_page/public/images/news/Screen%20Shot%202020-11-11%20at%2016.12.27.png?itok=yyYPDaMa)
Women of the Year awards aims to celebrate the achievements of women of all backgrounds and this year, honours were given to women from fields including health, tech and music.
Roe, who took up the chair position in 2018, addressed the audience of the 2020 Women of the Year awards virtually. Despite the challenges the Elior Foodsmiths team produced 378 afternoon tea boxes so the ‘awards lunch’ could go ahead.
Among the virtual attendees were actress and television presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE, DJ Edith Bowman and presenter Dame Esther Rantzen DBE.
The virtual guests enjoyed mature cheddar cheese straws, glazed fruit scones and double chocolate brownie cake along with a selection of Brew Tea infusions and Thomas & Scott Organic Prosecco.
Roe commented: “It has been a privilege to chair this fantastic organisation that seeks out and honours exceptional women in every walk of life, some of whom will never have had the recognition for their achievements otherwise.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being Women of the Year chair, but sadly my three-year term has come to an end. I’m handing over to the wonderful Lady Louise Fitzroy who is utterly passionate about the organisation, and has a unique family connection to it, as she’s the granddaughter of our founder, Lady Tony Lothian.”
The Women of the Year has championed women’s achievements for more than 60 years. The 2020 event saw Roe pass on the chair position to Lady Louise Fitzroy.