A TRAVEL writer and TV presenter has won a prestigious award.
Sarah Woods, who lives in Potton and presents a regular travel feature on ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh Show, triumphed at the PSA Cruise Journalism Awards.
Former Stratton Upper School student Sarah, 44, was named winner of the Best Cruise Photography and Reportage prize at The Haymarket Hotel in London.
Sarah, who wrote freelance travel articles for the Biggleswade Chronicle when she first left school, has since penned 12 books and more than 2,000 features for newspapers and magazines all over the world.
After a stint presenting for the National Geographic channel Sarah landed the role on the daytime show, which has just finished its second series.
She said: “I have been travelling extensively for the last 20 years and I have been to most parts of the world.
“Before each trip I have arranged to write a feature or book on wherever I have been.
“I have gradually made contacts in television and the Alan Titchmarsh producers contacted me to see if I wanted to present on the show.”
Sarah, who grew up in Biggleswade and lists Panama, Colombia and other parts of Central and South America among her favourite destinations, was delighted to win the award.
She added: “It was for a feature on cruises we did with Jane McDonald, who used to be a singer on a ship.
“I was asked to go on the show as the producers were looking for experts on topics the programme covered rather than celebrities, and I have enjoyed it very much.”