During this year’s Sir John Lloyd lecture at Theatr Brycheiniog, Professor Prys Morgan of Swansea University and Martine Woodcock, Education Officer at Brecknock Museum presented the prizes to the winners of this year’s Victor Jones History Project Competition for Year 6 pupils of Breconshire. The competition is sponsored by the Brecknock Society and Museum Friends and the aim of the competition is to encourage local children to find out about the history of the people and places of Breconshire.

This year first prize was awarded to Llangors School pupil, Sky Deem whose project was called Tyn-y-Cwm, Llanfilo. Sky wrote an inspiring account about the history of her family home. It was written in a child-friendly manner and her passion to find out as much as she could is evident throughout.

She approached her research techniques through all the correct channels such as collecting census information and studying tithe maps and she also included a lot of newspaper articles and photographs to create a detailed and accurate project.

Joint second prize was awarded to Niamh Aplin of Llangors School with her project entitled ‘The Experience of Some Women in the Health Service over the last 150 years’. Niamh provided research information about Dr. Frances Hoggan’s life and she also compared and contrasted interviews with female NHS staff of differing ages to see how times and attitudes have changed. It was a very cleverly constructed project.

The other second prize winner was Henry Organ also of Llangors School whose project was entitled ‘The Wells of Brecknockshire’.

Henry’s project was beautifully presented and it drew you in straight away with his desire to find out more about local wells after finding a well in his garden in Llanfrynach. He took readers on a very informative journey on his quest to find out as much as he could whilst creating a very impressive project.

In third place was Ruan Harrhy of Crickhowell School. Ruan wrote his project about ‘The History of Tretower Castle and Court’.

It was a very neatly presented project which included a lot of relevant historical facts and Ruan’s passion about his subject matter shone through. His project was certainly a well-deserved third place winner. Ruan unfortunately could not attend the presentation.

Highly Commended certificates have been awarded to Tilly Corbett and Max Price of Llangors School, Imogen O’Connell, Harri Brown and Declan Flynn of Crickhowell School and Billy James of Hay School.

This year’s Art and Design prize was won jointly by Belle Chambers of Llangors School for her impressive drawing of the original Llangorse school and our other winner is Zola Lien-Buy of Hay School who drew a detailed picture of a World War II Bren Gun Carrier.

The overall school prize of £200 was won by Llangors Church in Wales School.

Martine Woodcock the Education Officer for Brecknock Museum said ‘The judges would like to commend every Year 6 pupil that took part in this year’s competition as they all put a lot of effort into their projects’. The winning projects will be on display to the public firstly at Brecon Library and then Talgarth and Crickhowell.