Category Archives: Millennium Bursary

Knutsford Town Council and Knutsford Lions are delighted to announce Leo Davies and Katie Chaplin as the joint recipients of the 2024 Knutsford Millennium Bursary.

Established in 2000, the Knutsford Millennium Bursary is awarded annually to a deserving Knutsford student pursuing higher education. This year, the selection panel, which comprised Lydia Barclay of Knutsford Lions and Town Mayor Cllr Peter Coan were so impressed by two applicants that they decided to combine the main award of £660 and supplementary award of £250 and share it between two students.

Leo Davies, who is undertaking a joint honours degree in Anthropology and English Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, said “It’s an absolute honour and privilege to receive this bursary”

“Living in Belfast, this financial support will be essential for my studies. Notably, my research on karate’s cultural impact across the UK will hopefully showcase the dedication and character-building this practice fosters. Thank you so much!”

Sharing the award is Katie Chaplin, who is pursuing a Fine Art degree at the Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University.

“I am incredibly grateful for this bursary,” said Katie. “This funding will allow me to pursue further training in art therapy and support the costs of materials and exhibitions in my final year. My passion lies in helping others through art therapy, and this bursary helps me explore this exciting career path.”

Lydia Barclay, representing Knutsford Lions, commented, “All the applicants were a pleasure to meet. Their ambition and innovative ideas shone through. We were particularly impressed by Leo’s research project and Katie’s desire to use art to help others. We felt both applications deserved recognition, so we decided to award a joint bursary this year.”

Knutsford Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Coan, echoed this sentiment, adding, “Leo and Katie are stellar examples of the talent we have here in Knutsford and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing the incredible things they’ll achieve.”

Leo and Katie each received a bursary of £455 to support their third year university studies. The 2025 bursary will open for applications in January.  

Future vet Ella Senior has won the 2023 Knutsford Millennium Bursary, securing £575 towards her studies.

Introduced in 2000, the Millennium Bursary is awarded annually to a student from Knutsford to support their third year university studies. The bursary is delivered in partnership with Knutsford Lions who provide an additional discretionary award.

Queensway resident Ella is studying Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Edinburgh.  Speaking of being award the bursary Ella said: “I’m very excited at the opportunity to be able to use this bursary to help me with the large amounts of work experience I have to do with my degree.

I have had some amazing experiences so far working on farms all over the country and this bursary will help fund travel, accommodation, and living costs during my placements (including replacing several pairs of ripped waterproof trousers thanks to the horns of some slightly angry sheep!).

It will go towards equipment I need during my training such as suture kits, riding helmets, and lecture notes. I have three years left of placements to go and this help from the town council will be really appreciated to assist me along my way.”

Six students applied for the 2023 bursary and were interviewed by Town Mayor Cllr Mike Houghton and Lydia Kennedy of Knutsford Lions. Mike and Lydia were impressed by the enthusiasm of each candidate for their field of study and the journey their studies are taking them on.

Lydia said “This year’s winner, Ella provided us with a clear plan on how she would use the bursary where it will make a difference to enhance her studies and university experience. Her dedication and enthusiasm for her future career as a vet shone through, and we wish her every success.”

Knutsford Lions also agreed to make a discretionary award to Ryan Ketley. Ryan, of Grebe Close, is studying Nursing at the University of Salford.

“Ryan Ketley’s positive approach to his studies really struck a chord for us. His passion and work ethic are un-mistakable, he is clearly driven to succeed and pursue his nursing career. So, we wanted to recognise this with an additional award from Lions this year.” Lydia added.

Applications for the 2024 Millennium Bursary open in November.

Knutsford Town Council has awarded its 2022 Millennium Bursary to Liberal Arts student Abigail Chetham, who is studying at Durham University.

Abigail, who attended Knutsford Academy, is in her second year of the programme and is passionate about ancient near-eastern civilisations and religions; with plans to complete an excavation in Egypt over the summer. As well as excelling in her academic studies, Abigail has an array of different talents and interests, including Performing Arts, Dance, Music and Aerial Arts. Abigail is also an active member of her local Methodist Church and has a passion for volunteer work. Pre-covid, she took a volunteering trip to Kenya where she supported local communities in housing, education, and environmental projects.

Abigail intends to use the £565 bursary to support her travels to various museums and exhibits, to expand her research through purchasing a range of new literature, and to support her trip to Egypt this summer.

Abigail said, “I’m really excited to be able to take part in this excavation, which without the bursary would have certainly been less financially viable. The trip will not only help me for my dissertation and studies in general but will also provide me with real-world skills which will help me when it comes to trying to get a job later in life. The excavation is taking place at the ancient city of Sais, modern Sa el-Hagar, which was the capital of 26th Dynasty Egypt and is around halfway between modern Cairo and Alexandria, in the Nile Delta. The excavation is organised by the Egypt Exploration Society as well as Durham University, and I was chosen to take part by one of my professors. The bursary will be funding my travel expenses, as well as accommodation and sustenance for while I’m out there, for which I’m so grateful.”

The annual Millennium Bursary is awarded in partnership with the Knutsford Lions and supports a Knutsford student in their second year of University with the aim of supporting their final year project/dissertation.

The Knutsford Lions also gave a runner-up prize of £200 to Hope Philpott, who is studying History at the University of Oxford. Hope is an aspiring journalist and has written extensively for the Oxford student newspaper ‘Cherwell’, as well as being a Pembroke College Oxford Access Ambassador; where she helps young people from underrepresented backgrounds apply to Oxford.

Hope is planning on staying in Oxford over the summer to utilise the Bodleian and Weston library archives to aid her study.

Hope said, “I will absolutely use the money wisely and I’m greatly looking forward to staying in Oxford over the summer. I will continue to be an ambassador for diverse applications to Oxford and I’m still hoping to go into journalism!”

Students currently in their first year of university should look out for the 2023 Millennium Bursary opening for applications in the Autumn.

The bursary was awarded following an interview with the Town Mayor Cllr Stewart Gardiner and Knutsford Lions’ Lydia Kennedy.

Speaking of the award Lydia said “It was wonderful to speak with all the applicants this year, each of them bringing their own talents and plans for the future to the discussions. They would all have made great winners. We know that Abigail will bring her fantastic outlook with her for her planned excavation internship as well as in all her future studies as this year’s bursary student. The Lions were also delighted to be able to award a runners up prize to Hope to use for her ongoing research at Oxford. We wish them all the best of luck for their next year at university.”