IT was literally the win of a lifetime - and if it was not for his dedication and loyalty to York and North and East Yorkshire, Professor Tony Robards might have missed seeing and hearing all the plaudits of his big occasion.

Prof Robards was last week named as the first recipient of the Evening Press Lifetime Achievement Award - a high point in the 2003 Evening Press Business of the Year Awards at the Ebor Suite at York Racecourse.

The judges had been unanimous, the applause had been rapturous and, as he was handed his glass trophy by Jonathan Leach, of the award sponsor Ware & Kay solicitors, of York, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations at the University of York was visibly surprised and moved. "This is a humbling experience," he told the gathering of nearly 300 people. But there was a brief danger that Prof Robards might not turn up. The event clashed with a gathering of biotech boffins in Cambridge to which he had also been invited.

The professor decided that there was no contest. The business awards were more important. He'd go.

This is his second major personal award this year, having received the OBE from the Queen for "services to higher education."

Now he was being hailed for his pivotal role in bringing glory to the region, with his Science City initiative creating 25 new businesses and generating 1,800 new jobs.

He champions the Bioscience York cluster group. He occupies the chair sponsored by HSBC Bank as Professor Of Innovation.

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, November 25, 2003