A WOMAN described as having “a passion for the holiday industry,” was honoured with a major tourism award this week.Ninety-year-old Baba Bird became only the 10th person to win the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority annual lunch on Tuesday at the Town Hall.

A WOMAN described as having “a passion for the holiday industry,” was honoured with a major tourism award this week.

Ninety-year-old Baba Bird became only the 10th person to win the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority annual lunch on Tuesday at the Town Hall.

Mrs Bird has been involved in the holiday accommodation industry since her childhood - and her son, Malcolm, is continuing that “passion” - as current chairman of the authority.

Mrs Bird was brought up in her parents' guesthouse in Kent Square, Great Yarmouth. During the 1930s she helped cater for the June to September summer holiday visitors, then from September to December for the Scots fisher girls who travelled to Yarmouth to work in the dockside herring industry.

During the second world war, she was evacuated to Birmingham where she met her future husband. They opened a restaurant but then returned to Yarmouth in 1951 to become the owners of the Winchester Private Hotel in Euston Road.

In 2004, Mrs Bird retired next door to the Classic Lodge and now spends much of her time promoting the changes of Yarmouth to both old and new customers.

In a recorded video interview, Mrs Bird said: “Yarmouth was popular in the 1950s and 1960s because people had had no holiday during the war years and they flocked to the English seaside resorts.

“They were beautifully dressed, not like today's holidaymakers with their T-shirts and shorts and 'anything goes'.”

In his speech to the gathering at the lunch, Malcolm Bird said there were challenges facing the tourist authority but it was exciting.

He added: “We can honestly say that things are changing and we are on the rise.”

He warned though that the tourism industry could not work in isolation.

Four Investment in Tourism Awards were handed out. First to collect their certificate were Stuart and Jill Ramsey of The Bromley in Apsley Road, Yarmouth. The judges described the hotel as “a hidden gem with shops on the doorstep.” It has “Wow” factor fittings and achieve 4-star guest accommodation rating at the first time of asking.

The second award went to owners who are no strangers to the public eye. Elly Koopman and Rob Farrow of No 78 (78 Marine Parade, Yarmouth) are the recent stars of the TV series The Hotel Inspector. They aim to be as environmentally-friendly as possible with in-room recycling boxes, water saving devices in their toilets, and 100pc British wool carpets.

The Pub on the Prom was described as “another quality project in a prime location which has helped life this important area” and “a landmark building that saw a remarkable transformation in 2007.” Owners Rodney Scott and Ian Scott collected the third award.

And finally, the fourth award went to a “forward-thinking attraction” for bringing innovation and significant investment to the seafront - Yesterday's World. Peter Bull, Andy Glynn and Ian Dickinson collected the certificate on behalf of “excellent staff who are very much part of the attraction: their commitment to tourism must not go un-noticed.”

Yarmouth's Sea Life Centre general manager Mike Salt collected the Education and Training Award; every year delivering high quality, memorable experiences for visitors; Seagull Cottage in Caister on Sea - with its spa bath and marriage of old and new - won the Self Catering Business of the Year Award; and Fritton House Country Hotel collected the Hotel of the year accolade.

Guest Accommodation of the Year went to Greg and Samantha Haddon of The Winchester in Euston Road (see page 63), and the Merrivale Model Village was Attraction of the Year - “a 'small' attraction it may be, but it's big on what it has to offer!”

And finally, the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism went to Potters Leisure Resort, with their state of the art entertainment venue singled out for high praise.

All the awards and certificates were presented by mayor and mayoress Paul and Lisa Garrod.

Full list of awards

Investment in Tourism Award

Stuart and Jill Ramsey of The Bromley

Elly Koopman and Rob Farrow of No 78, 78 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth

Rodney Scott and Ian Scott of The Pub on the Prom

Peter Bull, Andy Glynn and Ian Dickinson of Yesterday's World

Education and Training Award

The Sea Life Centre

Self-Catering Business of the Year

Seagull Cottage, part of the Beachside Holidays, Nick and Stephanie Sampson

Hotel of the Year

Fritton House Country Hotel and Hugh Crossley

Guest Accommodation of the Year

The Winchester, Gregg and Samantha Haddon

Attraction of the Year

Merrivale Model Village

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism

Potters Leisure Resort

Lifetime Achievement Award

Baba Bird

Graded Achievement Awards

3 Star guest accommodation, B&B, guesthouse

Kingsley House, The Chateau, The Haydee, The Maryland, The Shrewsbury (Welcome to Excellence), The Trotwood guesthouse, The Victoria.

4 Star guest accommodation, B&B, guesthouse

All Seasons guesthouse, Classic Lodge (Welcome to Excellence), Knights Court (5 Star Food Safety rating), Merivon (Welcome to Excellence), No 78, The Bromley, The Corner House (5 Star Food Safety Rating), The Fjaerland (Welcome to Excellence/ 5 Star Food Safety Rating, The Kensington (Welcome to Excellence), The Southern (5 Star Food Safety Rating), The Hamilton, The Winchester.

Star Rated Hotels

Furzedown (2 Star Hotel), The Star Hotel (3 Star Hotel), Fritton House (3 Star Country House Hotel), Imperial Hotel (EE Silver Award/ AA Rosette for Food)

Holiday Parks: touring parks, self-catering, holiday villages

Cavalier Holiday Chalets (3 Star Chalet), Grasmere Caravan Park (3 Star Holiday & Touring Park), Beachside Holidays (4 Star Holiday Park/Self catering), Hadleigh Holiday Suites (4 Star Self Catering), Clippesby Hall (5 Star Holiday Park/ 5 Star Self Catering, 5 AA Pennants, 2007 Conservation Award), Vauxhall Holiday Park (5 Star Holiday Park, 5 AA Pennants, 2007 Conservation Award), Potters Leisure Resort (5 Star Holiday Village).

ends