Fellows’ Award Ceremony 2024

At our most recent Award Ceremony, held at the Methodist Central Hall in London in September, we congratulated 122 Fellows as they were presented with their Churchill Medallions by members of the Advisory Council and Board of Trustees.

The event began with an opportunity to network before Julia Weston, Chief Executive, welcomed Churchill Fellows and their guests, members of the Churchill Fellowship community including Trustees, Council members and special guests including Charlotte Peel, Hubert de Billy, representatives from our Partner organisations, Churchill Fellowship Ambassadors, Baroness Lola Young and John Elkington (CF 1981) and our guest of honour, Julie Stokes, CBE (CF 1991).

Congratulating the Fellows receiving their Medallions and talking about the Fellowship community, Julia Weston said: “Where else could you find in one room, the person whose passion is craneflies, as well as the person who is absolutely committed to keeping our transport systems safe and moving in winter, the person who dedicates themselves to eradicating modern slavery from the date industry, as well as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in UK Construction and the person who is campaigning to improve prison food in the UK. The Churchill Fellowship network and community is just extraordinary.”

Guests also heard from Julie Stokes, who delivered a powerful keynote speech reflecting on how her Churchill Fellowship shaped her career from her work in the NHS as a clinical psychologist supporting bereaved children through to her founding the leading children's charity Winston's Wish and her current role as an executive coach. Congratulating all the Fellows in the room on the amazing work they have already completed, Julie encouraged everyone to embrace the extraordinary Fellowship journey that lay ahead for them.

A small number of special awards were presented in memory of people who have been important to the development and success of the Fellowship over the decades.

Mary White received a Viscount De L’Isle Award, presented by Julie Stokes, in recognition of demonstrating a real determination to succeed for the benefit of others. Emily Miller received the Mary Soames Award for History, presented by Charlotte Peel, Lady Soames’ daughter. Jenny Chapman and Amara Nwosu both received a Pol Roger award in recognition of their success in generating significant publicity for their Fellowship. This was presented by Hubert de Billy, the great, great grandson of Pol Roger.

Before each Churchill Fellow received their individual Churchill Medallion, a unique award designed by the renowned artist Sir Brian Clarke (CF 1974), the audience was treated to a fantastic performance from the inspirational Music Man choir, founded by disability campaigner David Stanley (CF 2019).

Concluding the main event, Jeremy Soames, Chair of the Churchill Fellowship remarked: “It has been an honour to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Churchill Fellows. It is my hope that your Fellowship learning will prove to be a significant element of your life’s journey and that you will view the Award Ceremony not as the conclusion of your Churchill Fellowship, but rather as one point on a journey that will continue to grow and develop. Your Fellowship can be an incredible catalyst, and it may take you in directions you are not yet aware of. We are very much looking forward to seeing where your Fellowship will take you next.”

Do you have a passion for change? Applications for the Churchill Fellowship are now open – don't miss this opportunity to turn your idea into action.