Judges in this ninth year of the IHBC Marsh Charitable Trust Awards are delighted to announce the 2024 Awards, with the winner of the ‘Community Contribution by a Retired Member of the IHBC’ category going to David Blackburn (Yorkshire Branch), and the winner of the ‘Successful Learning in Heritage Skills’ going to Damian Williams of Williams Conservation.
…£500 and the option of a free full residential place at the IHBC’s upcoming Annual School in Reading…
Each award winner is to receive £500 and the option of a free full residential place at the IHBC’s upcoming Annual School in Reading from 12/13-15 June 2024.
IHBC Marsh Award judges were especially impressed with David Blackburn’s breadth of contributions after his retirement in 2016, including involvement as ICS trustee and committee member, Bradford Building Preservation Trust, National Trust Volunteers, in local awards campaigns, campaigns to get local buildings listed, and contributions to local and neighbourhood plans.
…I would recommend all younger heritage specialists to try volunteer work…[David Blackburn]
David said: ‘It is an honour to be a recipient of a Marsh Award, I have always tried to give some time volunteering at all stages in my career. It has given me and still does, great pleasure and satisfaction. Whilst I appreciate the pressures in today’s work environment I would recommend all younger heritage specialists to try volunteer work, it is needed more than ever..’
…Judges appreciated Damian Williams’s passion to conserve the built heritage…
Judges appreciated Damian Williams’s passion to conserve the built heritage and his dedication to continue learning and advancing his skills. With a NVQ Level 3 in Lime Plastering, he undertook a MA in Conservation of the Historic Environment at Birmingham City University (IHBC Recognised Course), earning a Distinction.
Damian said: ‘Thank you to the Marsh Charitable Trust & IHBC for this award. Pride is always an awkward emotion for me to feel, in fact I’m a little embarrassed for winning such a prestigious award. But one that I will happily accept. I’d like to thank the Tywi Centre in Llandeilo for starting my life in built conservation, to Ty Mawr Lime for expanding my knowledge of lime, to Cliff Blundell for being a being distant and stubborn mentor & advocator for Welsh building conservation and to Birmingham City University for accepting me on to a Masters Degree when I had nothing under my belt but an NVQ Level 3 in Lime Plastering and lastly to the real conservation force of nature who’s in my own house, my Girlfriend Miss Jones.’
An in-person Award presentation is planned for the Annual Dinner of the IHBC Reading School 2024, on the evening of the IHBC’s Reading Day School on 14 June.
For more information on the Annual School see HERE.
For more on the IHBC Marsh Awards for Community Contribution (Retired Member) and Successful Learning in Heritage Skills see HERE.
