derry named first uk city of culture

By Catherine Jones on Jul 16, 10 08:37 AM

Congratuations to Londonderry/Derry for winning the first UK City of Culture title.
I was told by Phil Redmond that the bid was so impressive it was a unanimous decision by the eight-strong independent judging panel.

You may well have seen the announcement on the One Show last night, sandwiched somewhere between Michael Palin and a section on what I'm assuming was malaria (the sound was turned down at that point so I can't be sure).
I was among those standing on top of the Mersey Ferry terminal praying it wouldn't tip it down like it had on Wednesday evening, as when I asked about contingency plans should the heavens open, there didn't seem to be any.
It was good to see the scenes of excitement beamed from Londonderry itself too - a little dose of nostalgia for us in Liverpool and that day in June 2003 when we were given the Capital of Culture title.
Of course, that's exactly why we were all there last night (those of you who caught it on TV missing the spectacle of Phil Redmond and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey's impromptu off-air entertainment which consisted of a quick burst of "Underneath the Arches").
It was because of Liverpool's success in 2008 that the previous - and now the current - government decided to introduce a UK-wide title. And we should be very proud of that fact.
A word of advice to Londonderry/Derry as they wake up this morning with (I hope) the whiff of a bad hangover.
Now the work really begins. Now the expectations of the city really kick in. And it's all too easy to get it wrong, as we know from experience.
Northern Ireland is a place that knows all about political divides, about how easily disagreements can escalate into full-blown rows.
Everyone in Derry will need to continue their good work of pulling together over the next four years to make sure City of Culture is the success it deserves to be. Look and learn from Liverpool, both the highs and lows of our journey to what turned out to be a cracking year.
And also a not of caution from someone in the regional press.
While it's all very exciting to get national coverage, like the One Show last night, the real day-to-day, vital support will come from your local media.
Cherish them and they will cherish you and help make sure 2013 is the year you are hoping for.
I look forward to seeing what you achieve.