PM Society 2003 Advertising Awards Ceremony

There are a number of questions that are always asked before our flagship Advertising Awards, 'Have we been short-listed for an Award? Can we have a table at the Ceremony? Where is our table in relation to the stage? Who is the compere? And a repeat of last year's big question on the day - 'Will the Arctic weather that has arrived in the UK stop me getting there?'

Thankfully, the snow and ice retreated and we were able to pack even more of you in, to enjoy the day's festivities. Over 1,300 guests came to Le Meridien Grosvenor House to celebrate the cream of the UK Pharmaceutical's creative talent and with a theme of 'The Golden Era of Cinema', who better to host these prestigious awards than Stephen Fry.

The Exhibition and Sponsor's bar areas were teeming with guests from 11.00am. Different areas of the hotel were used for the pre-awards reception due to refurbishments taking place in the Ballroom; however everyone seemed to enjoy themselves in the traditional 'networking and warm up period' to the lunch and awards ceremony.


As everyone was ushered down to The Great Room, they found themselves mingling with top Hollywood Stars from the past and present. 'Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson and Sir Anthony Hopkins' welcomed everyone as they walked down the red carpet to take their seats at one of the 132 tables, being serenaded by an old time cinema organist on the stage.



In a change to the usual format, the Society's Chairman, Mike Gale, provided us an overview of the forthcoming activities for the year via a filmed speech. After thanking the hosts, guests, judges and sponsors and entrants to the Awards, PM Society members were promised a timetable of exciting and informative events for 2004.

After a delicious lunch, the much anticipated awards ceremony began with surprise host 'Stephen Fry' who immediately took charge of the proceedings. There could have been no stronger supporter of the pharmaceutical industry. In his words 'Pharmaceuticals are my life. As an anxious, asthmatic, insomniac, I am a firm supporter of the Industry who provide sweeties for grown-ups'.

With reference to the Pharmacopoeia being his friend, mistress, sergeant major, lover, disgraceful uncle and one night stand all rolled into one, the audience were laughing and cheering his every word.

Then it came to the main part of the day - announcing the winners of the seventeen awards. Award winners were announced and photographs taken. Humphrey Bogart lookalike - alias Neil Smith, Awards Chairman (or Rigsby, as Stephen thought more fitting) - presented the Geoff Brook Award for Innovation in Advertising. Trophies were won and Champagne drunk. Details of all categories, winners and their creative work are reproduced in full in the Awards Results Brochure.

There were some other winners on the day. The Charity supported by the PM Society - The British Institute for Brain Injured Children (BIBIC) collected donations from guests and a prize draw for three superb prizes was made.

3rd Prize of a DVD player went to Sue Willgoss from Williams Blake Reay
2nd Prize of a stereo went to Sarah Brenton from Wrigley Foster Media Direct and
1st Prize of a weekend for 2 went to Hugh Griffith from BioEnvision.


A big thank you to everyone who generously donated £5,000 to the Charity during the collection.

To continue the celebrations, the now 'traditional' disco and networking continued long into the afternoon and evening and we hope you will all agree - a fantastic day was had by all.

Our photographer managed to capture some great moments during the day. We hope you enjoy the photographs below and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

Held on: 30/01/2004