A BUDE man who has won a major prize for his study of Cornish history says he is ‘humbled’ by the award.
University of Gloucestershire student Jack Miles, 21, has won the Conrad Tipping Memorial Prize for his study of Cornish history.
He said: “It touched on various subjects such as Cornish nationalism, Celtic revivalism, Orientalism as well as a wider history of Cornwall.
“I attempted to place the research I conducted in local archives into a wider, international context.”
When asked if he was surprised to win the award, Jack said: “I was. I knew that there were many excellent history dissertations and for mine to be recognised specifically in such a way was quite humbling.
“It’s really cool to have my work recognised in such a way, I feel pretty proud of what I’ve managed to achieve.
“I’d like to thank my family for their support but also Dr Iain Robertson for his guidance in supervising my research.”
Jack said he chose to study history at Gloucestershire, primarily because the modules on offer reflected his own research interests but also due to the university’s close proximity to his home in Cornwall.
The Conrad Tipping Memorial Prize was presented to him at his graduation ceremony at The Centaur in Cheltenham on November 26. The prize is awarded to the student with the best undergraduate dissertation in the study of local history.
The award is given each year to one pupil from the university and is named after Conrad Tipping, a local schoolmaster and antiquarian who died in 1948.
Jack currently works in Ann’s Cottage surf shop in Bude and is hoping to begin travelling soon, he said: “For the moment I’ve returned home to my job for a couple months before I head off travelling in January.
“In September I’m hoping to start a graduate diploma in Law and eventually qualify as a solicitor.
“I haven’t applied anywhere yet as I’m hoping to secure a training contract first but I’d like to study for the graduate diploma in Law in Exeter.”