Robert Excell Heritage Award

The meeting was preceded by a guided tour of Great Linford Manor Park conducted by John Gosling.

The first Robert Excell Memorial Heritage Annual Award was presented on June 19th at Great Linford Arts Centre. In a well-attended event, at a delightful venue. Bill Griffiths Director Milton Keynes Museum and Hilary Young, a close relative of Robert, presented the awards.

The first joint winner was John Gosling who produced an impressive, thoroughly researched website entitled Great Linford History and, in association with the Friends of Great Linford Manor Park, conducted historical re-enactments in and around the park. All these activities were supported by the Parks Trust.

John Gosling receiving his award from Hilary Young for his Great Linford History website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other joint winner was Turvey History Society who ran a series of successful historically themed events at the local church of All Saints involving many of the interests of the village community under the title of: Saxon Stonework to Singing on Zoom – an Exhibition of 1000 years of Creativity in Turvey as part of Heritage Open Days.

Sara Jenkins showing the large cheque and certificate awarded to Turvey History Society for their submission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The commendation was given to Woughton Heritage who rescued and arranged for the conservation of a valuable local historical parchment for research and display.

Felicity Head (Woughton Heritage), Hilary Young and Bill Griffiths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The awards were given specifically to support future heritage projects.

If your group submitted an entry for the award in 2023, the Committee express their thanks. They were delighted to receive details of a significant number of high-quality heritage projects, representing the widely diverse and valuable work that is undertaken in the area. This gave the judging panel a difficult, but enjoyable challenge, in assessing and shortlisting the three winning projects.

The projects considered were those completed by the end of 2023, and included some for which MKHA provided a grant and several separately submitted to highlight the best work completed by a local heritage organisation, society or individual.

If you did submit an entry in 2023, and that project is still in progress, please consider resubmitting it this year – entries will close at the end of December. If your group did not submit an entry last year, please consider doing so in 2024. MKHA are very pleased to offer this significant award in Robert’s memory and provide an opportunity to fund future heritage work – something I know he would keenly support.