The Natural Stone Awards 2012 were presented by Stone Federation Great Britain at Lord's, the spiritual home of cricket in London, on 30 November in front of a packed audience of construction industry clients and professionals and their stone contractors and suppliers. 

It was an exciting, uplifting celebration of the best the stone industry offers in new build, conservation, interiors, hard landscaping, craftsmanship, technology and sustainability. There was even a one-off Special Award presented this time in recognition of Green Park Underground Station, where the various beds of Portland limestone have been used not just to clad the structure, but to turn it into a work of art, thanks to the work of John Maine.

 

Hosts for the Awards were sports commentator Jim Rosenthal and 'Voice of the Balls' Alan Dedicoat. TV builder Tommy Walsh presented the Trainee of the Year Award and the Natural Stone Awards 2012 were presented by architect and TV presenter Charlie Luxton, who stood in at the last minute for Kevin McCloud, who sadly suffered a death in his family.

The video above gives an idea of the buzz at the Awards presentation. It was continued on to the lunch that followed. Many had also taken the opportunity beforehand to go behind the scenes of the premises of the World's most famous cricket club (Marylebone – MCC) to see the Ashes and follow in the footsteps of cricketing legends in the Long Room.

The Awards are an unparalleled opportunity to revel in the skills of those who design and build in stone, and to focus the spotlight on the skills of the stonemason.

Readers of Natural Stone Specialist magazine who were not able to make it to the Awards ceremony saw the winning projects featured in the December 2012 issue of the monthly magazine.