Simon Cowell was honoured Monday night at a Music Industry Trust event in London, for his contributions to music and the entertainment industry, as well as to charitable causes.

The Music Industry Trusts award is presented annually to a public figure by the organisation; and Cowell picked up the award for 2015.

One Direction presented the 24th edition of the MITS award to their mentor, at the charity event held in London’s Grovenor House Hotel.

Picking up the award, a light-hearted Cowell, who heavily grieved after losing his mother earlier this year, cracked jokes about the boy band- and dedicated the award to his late parents.

Lightly pirouetting away from the grief to speak of his 20 month old son Eric, he said;

“I hope he will be standing here in 23 years time as I’m being wheeled into the Grosvenor House Hotel on my second pack of cigarettes.”

Simon was accompanied to the event by his wife Lauren Silverman, and a video tribute was aired featuring contributions from British Prime Minister David Cameron, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Curtis, James Corden, Kevin Spacey, Cheryl, Louis Walsh, Little Mix and Ella Henderson.

Previous music industry figures to be recognised include Sir Elton John, Lord (Andrew) Lloyd-Webber, Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Jools Holland, Gary Barlow, Annie Lennox and Michael Eavis