Congratulations to Michael Jones, here being awarded the blue cloisonné enamelled silver Churchill medal, after completing his Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship.

Michael, a Master Teacher from Northfleet Technology College, was presented with a newly designed Churchill medal at a prestigious biennial award ceremony in London this week (Wednesday, 18th May), after successfully completing his Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship.

He was presented with the medal by its designer and Guest of Honour, Professor Brian Clarke, who is a world renowned architectural artist, and a 1974 Churchill Fellow himself. Professor Clarke presented 129 Fellows with their medallions at a ceremony in Church House, in Central London. Church House has significant Churchillian associations as during the Blitz, Winston Churchill requisitioned Church House as a makeshift Houses of Parliament after the originals had been damaged by bombing. It was also from Church House that he made his famous speech announcing the sinking of the Bismarck on 24th May 1941.

As part of his Fellowship, Michael travelled to the USA to investigate computer science education in Colorado, New York and Massachusetts with a view to establishing contacts and developing methodology for use in the UK. As part of his Fellowship, he delivered a lecture to the staff at MIT, spent a day with Cynthia Solomon (part of the original Seymour Papert) team and worked with summer school classes in Colorado.

Speaking about the Fellowship, Michael said “The Travelling Fellowships provide opportunities for UK citizens to go abroad on a worthwhile project of their own choosing, with the aim of enriching their lives through their global experiences – and to bring back the benefit to others in their UK profession or community through sharing the results of their new knowledge”.

Professor Brian Clarke praised all the Fellows for their outstanding achievements, and said that “I know from personal experience that the Fellowship represents a wonderful opportunity. I am continually amazed and inspired by the Churchill Fellows dedication and commitment to making a difference in so many areas affecting today’s society.”