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| David St John Thomas presents the silver cup for the Transport History Book of the Year to Bill Fawcett at Hull, 8 May 2010. (Photo by Tim Edmonds) |
The presentation of the prizes for the Railway & Canal Society’s annual book awards has become an important part of the AGM weekend each year. The presentations in 2010 took place in the Court Room of the Hull Maritime Museum immediately after the meeting, organised by the society’s North Eastern Group. Although it was disappointing that no book on a canal subject reached the final shortlist, the 2010 competition was notable in celebrating the publication of a pioneering book on ferries and the first-ever return of a previous winner to take a second award.
When the competition started in 2004, the first winning book was one published by the North Eastern Railway Association and written by Dr Bill Fawcett. In 2010 the Railway Book of the Year and the overall winner of the Transport History Book of the Year was Bill’s latest book for the NERA, covering the independent years of the first railway across Britain, The History of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway 1824 to 1870.
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| Joan Tucker receives the cheque from David St John Thomas for the Road Transport Book of the Year. (Photo by Tim Edmonds) |
The judges described the research behind the book as "exemplary" and noted that the writing "projects life". The silver cup and a cheque for £300 were presented by society’s Vice President David St John Thomas, whose Charitable Trust provides the funding for the awards. Bill also received the society’s framed certificate for 2010 Railway Book of the Year, presented by newly-elected President Michael Messenger, and a further cheque for £200 from the David St John Thomas Charitable Trust.
The second award for 2010 went to a book that covered a neglected subject, Ferries of Gloucestershire by Joan Tucker. Although this is a regional study, its significance is more than local in that it is the first systematic study of ferries and, indeed, the author is continuing her research to produce further studies of ferries in other areas, starting with the Lower Thames. Michael Messenger presented Joan with a framed certificate, and David St John Thomas presented a cheque for £200, for a book which the judges described as "exactly the sort of book, and author, that the society should be encouraging".
The society is keen to encourage the writing of well-researched, interesting and readable books in the field of transport history, and the annual ’Book of the Year’ awards were started in 2004 to help achieve this. Each year the society presents special framed certificates to the authors of leading books in one or more categories: Railway, Canal, and Transport. The winners also receive cash awards from the David St John Thomas Charitable Trust (http://www.dstjthomascharitabletrust.co.uk/), thanks to our member David St John Thomas – author of numerous books himself and well-known as a founder of the David & Charles publishing house. He has also provided a silver cup to be held by the winner for a year.
The society’s Journal carries a substantial book review section and eligible books are those on transport subjects that receive the best reviews in this. Currently there are some further qualifications. For example, books must be serious historical works based on original research, with subject matter primarily from the British Isles. Although quality of writing is important, reference works are also eligible and subject to appropriate assessment. The shortlisted books are considered by a panel of judges drawn from the membership of the society and the winners are announced at a ceremony at the society’s AGM in May each year.
If you are an author or publisher of books on transport subjects that you wish to be considered for an award, then please submit copies to the Journal for review. Books reviewed in the society’s Journal in 2010 are eligible for the 2011 awards; please contact the Book Review Editor (reviews@rchs.org.uk) for more information. If you would like to know more about the Book Awards scheme, please contact the Administrator (bookawards@rchs.org.uk).
Information about winners and finalists in previous years is on the winners’ page.