Rotherham Civic Society has made a posthumous award to Dame Julie Kenny, for the important role she played in saving one of the borough’s greatest assets, Wentworth Woodhouse. The annual Sheila Cameron Award for Outstanding Community Service to the town was presented to Dame Julie’s family just weeks before the anniversary of her unexpected death on 21st February 2025, at the age of 67.
Dame Julie was Sheffield-born but became one of Rotherham’s staunchest supporters. She based her electronic security company, Pyronix, at Hellaby, and with charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage she steered the campaign to save the town’s Grade I listed stately home for the nation. This led to Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust’s successful purchase of the site in 2017 and a 25-year restoration and regeneration project, with Dame Julie at the helm as Chair of Trustees.
The presentation, at Dame Julie’s beloved Wentworth Woodhouse, was made by the Civic Society’s Chair, Brian King. Her daughter, Charlotte Kenny-Martin, and one of her two sons, Laurence Kenny, received the honour in her memory.
Since 1968, the charity, Rotherham District Civic Society, has worked to protect and preserve all that is best in Rotherham’s heritage and improve the environment. It encourages the protection of buildings of architectural or historical interest, campaigns on issues which affect the locality and influences future planning and design for the town and surrounding villages. Sheila Cameron was a key executive committee member of Rotherham District Civic Socieety and the trophy has been awarded annually since her death in 2012.
RCS Vice-Chair, Dr David Sykes, commented: “When we were considering worthy recipients for the 2025 award, we realised we should have given it to Julie Kenny during her lifetime, for her outstanding work in saving and developing Wentworth Woodhouse. It was then clear that no other course could be contemplated and we agreed to make the award to her posthumously. In the task of updating Rotherham while keeping and commemorating the best of its past, only a few projects have been outstanding and, of those, the rescue of Wentworth Woodhouse seemed the hardest and greatest. No scheme of this size can be carried our single-handedly, and the trustees, volunteers, and staff earn a lot of the applause. But it also needs a leader, and those people will know how much Dame Julie’s leadership meant. This award expressed our thanks, and also our pride and enjoyment in the house she saved.“
Laurence Kenny said: “It is almost a year since we lost our cherished mum and we feel very privileged to receive this award on her behalf. She was captivated by Wentworth Woodhouse’s beauty while High Sheriff of South Yorkshire in 2012 and was determined to restore it to its status as a beacon of the nation’s built heritage. Unfortunately mum will never see that vision fully realised, but she certainly made her mark in this great story.“
Sarah McLeod, the Preservation Trust’s CEO, praised Dame Julie’s unwavering faith and inspirational leadership and urged the public to continue to support the house, where over £100 million of work is still to be completed.
Attendee, the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Rukhsana Ismail, commented: “Dame Julie supported and regenerated not only this remarkable building, but so many people’s lives. She was an inspiration for so many and I only wish I’d had the chance to meet her.”