A SOCIETY which commemorates a historic battle has sponsored a new academic award in memory of a former chair - and the first ever winner has been revealed.
The Battle of Worcester Society has sponsored a new academic prize at the University of Worcester.
The Richard Shaw Memorial Prize is an annual award, established in commemoration of the former chairman of the society, Richard Shaw, that aims to recognise outstanding work in early modern history, which covers the period from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century.
It will be awarded each year to the history student at the university who produces the best work on the period.
The first recipient of the prize is Ed Nock, who has received £500.
The prize came about through the Society’s close work with the University of Worcester, and in particular, Professor of Early Modern History, Darren Oldridge, who has previously given presentations for the Society.
The Battle of Worcester Society is a charity dedicated to promoting and protecting the heritage surrounding the Battle of Worcester, the last major battle of the English Civil War.
Daniel Daniels, Chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, said: "This prize is a testament to the Society’s commitment to both honouring the memory of our former Chairman and to fostering a deep appreciation for early modern history.
“We are thrilled that Ed Nock is the inaugural winner of this year’s prize. Ed’s exceptional dissertation on representations of the escape of the future Charles II after the Battle of Worcester stood out. It is a captivating and original study of printed accounts of this famous and significant event in the seventeenth century. The award reflects a commitment, shared between the University and the Society, to promoting academic excellence and the preservation of our heritage.”
Professor Oldridge said: “It is lovely to recognise the great work our students do on the some of the earlier periods that we teach at the University. These include the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the English Civil Wars, and the age of the Enlightenment. We really appreciate the generosity of the Battle of Worcester Society in establishing this prize. They have done so much to raise public awareness of early modern history in the city, and we are delighted to work with them to promote knowledge of this key period in history.”
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