We recognised the achievements of those people who quietly do so much to champion Cornwall’s heritage at our annual awards last week and what a night it was!
Every year, we recognise our Heritage Champion, an award which celebrates the achievements of an individual who has made a significant contribution to Cornwall’s heritage in a voluntary capacity. Nominations for this award are submitted by the public, and this year, they were so strong that the judging panel decided to create two new special awards – one for an Outstanding Contribution and one for Long Service to Cornwall’s heritage.
This year’s winners were Dean Evans, James Gossip and Chris Easton. Their support of and dedication to Cornwall’s heritage is incredibly inspiring – huge congratulations to them all!
This year’s judging panel consisted of:
- Liz Carne – Former Grand Bard of Cornwall, Melennek and Cornwall Heritage Trust Trustee
- Peter Lamble – Chairman and Partner of Coodes
- Kim Conchie – CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
- Lt Col Richard Trant – Chairman of Cornwall Heritage Trust
- Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col Edward Bolitho – President of Cornwall Heritage Trust
The awards were sponsored by Coodes Solicitors for the second year running, and we’re hugely grateful for its continued support.
Dean Evans… Heritage Champion 2023
Dean Evans was named the winner of the Sir Richard Trant Memorial Award for Heritage Champion Award 2023. The award was introduced in 2009 and is presented annually in memory of General Sir Richard Trant, past Chairman of Cornwall Heritage Trust.
Dean won the award for his work sharing the story and vision of Passmore Edwards in order to preserve and develop his legacy.
Though the name of Passmore Edwards remains over the doorway of many of the 70 public buildings he funded, with passing generations the association with Passmore Edwards, the enormous contribution that he made to the lives of so many people, and through many of the surviving buildings, continues to make, lessens.
Through publishing an award-winning biography of Passmore Edwards, giving talks about his life and work, and arranging numerous events to celebrate that life, Dean has ensured that people in Cornwall, and across the UK, remain aware of the contribution made by Passmore Edwards to society, nationally and internationally. His self-funded website and social media presence provide valuable information about the 70 public buildings funded by Passmore Edwards and assist many of those groups and organisations who are presently associated with them to continue to ensure that they continue to serve the communities to which they were originally given.
In 2011, Dean organised and coordinated more than 80 events to mark the 100 years since the death of Passmore Edwards and in 2023 a similar number of events has taken place to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cornwall’s most famous philanthropist. These events have taken place across Cornwall and across the south of the country and in London, wherever one of the Passmore Edwards buildings was situated. In creating these events Dean has worked with a huge number of organisations.
James Gossip… Outstanding Contribution Award 2023
James was given this award to recognise his dedication and willingness to continually go above and beyond for Cornish archaeology. Alongside his day job as a professional archaeologist with Cornwall Archaeological Unit, James has given up much of his time as Chairman and Site Director for Meneage Archaeology Group (MAG), an active group of 70+ volunteers aged 16-80 years founded by him in 2008 to continue the work at the multi-period excavation site at Boden on the Lizard.
His work has included training MAG volunteers in excavation, surveying and recording skills, enabling them to put these to use with other heritage projects like the Monumental Improvement Scheme, the CitiZan.
He has also been involved in projects regarding the coastal erosion of important sites like Trebarveth Salt Works, including involving MAG volunteers on other important excavations in Cornwall, such as at Tintagel, The Hurlers, Carwynnen Quoit, St. Piran’s Oratory and Gunwalloe. This has allowed them to work alongside professionals to gain more experience in excavation and knowledge of Cornish ancient sites.
His enthusiasm for protecting ancient monuments in the Cornish landscape is demonstrated by his many talks on this and organising clearance teams of volunteers from MAG to improve public access and awareness of these monuments.
He has given his knowledge, experience and free time to continue to lead with unfailing enthusiasm the excavation at Boden, a multi-period site with Bronze age, Iron Age and Romano-British activity. He also organises Open Days and walks to other local ancient sites.
Chris Easton… Long Service Award 2023
Chris was given this special award to recognise nearly 50 years of service he has so generously given to his community and Cornwall’s heritage.
He was one of a group of people who set up Perranzabuloe Museum, even doing much of the building work to convert the Oddfellows Hall from its previous life as a sportswear manufacturers, and has served on the management committee ever since. He has been Chair and, as well as being involved in the organisational side, has taken an active part in fundraising and maintenance, helping to protect the building itself for the future.
Chris has always been a keen supporter of Lowender and, during its years in Perranporth, his walks (originally honed for the Museum) became a regular and popular Friday afternoon event. During the festival he would be seen dancing with the Bolingey Troyl dancers, of which he was a member for many years and which he joined to help keep the tradition of Cornish dances and dancing alive in the parish. He even made the Troylers an ’Oss which he wore in the street procession and also in Perranporth’s Carnival.
He has been a member of Perranzabuloe Old Cornwall Society for many years (and President on at least two occasions) and has proudly carried the banner at many events including the St Piran Parade in Truro. Chris took part in ‘The Mermaid’s Revenge’, a Millennium Community Project, for which he sourced the folkloric story on which the play was based. After this followed the annual St Piran Play and for a few years Chris also instituted and ran ‘Gol Sen Perran’, an evening of music, spoken word and a faith supper, to extend the Pirantide weekend activities and provide something for those who couldn’t manage the dunes.
As a beachcomber he has seen the damage done to our natural heritage by plastic and other waste and has used his ‘finds’ to spread the word, giving talks to adults and children and creating murals around the village and artworks. For years he has been a trustee with Perranporth Garden Charities, an organisation that looks after some beautiful open spaces in the village, again serving as a very proactive Chair. Through the Museum, Chris has been part of the Time and Tide project with Exeter University looking at mining activity as well as natural erosion in the story of Perranporth’s cliffs and he and his beach finds were an important part of the ‘Heritage On The Beach’ days run as part of the project.
According to those who nominated him, Chris is the person everyone turns to if they need to know something about Perranzabuloe and he has put this knowledge to the service of the parish, helping to increase their understanding of the importance of heritage in our lives.
A celebration to remember…
Over 100 guests headed to Scorrier House near Redruth last Thursday to celebrate the winners’ achievements at a glittering awards ceremony, which was sponsored by Coodes Solicitors.
The ceremony was hosted by Cornwall Heritage Trust’s President, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE; the Trust’s Chairman, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Trant; and Daphne Skinnard from BBC Radio Cornwall.
Guests were treated to Cornish music from Joanna Tagley and refreshments, which were generously provided by Trevethan Distillery and Navas Drinks.
