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 February 21st, 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. It 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 Society 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 out 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 expresses 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.”
Caption: Pictured LtoR in Wentworth Woodhouse’s Ship Room: Rotherham Civic Society Chair Brian King and Vice-Chair Dr David Sykes, Dame Julie’s children Charlotte Kenny-Martin and Laurence Kenny, Mayor of Rotherham Cllr Rukhsana Ismail and WWPT’s CEO Sarah McLeod OBE
