Dr. Teddy Church Bursary Award Presentation

University of Kent

Dr. Teddy Church was a dedicated GP and Freemason whose lifelong passion for Kentish history, genealogy and heraldry led him to build an exceptional collection, consisting of some 6,000 books.   His family later bequeathed this collection to the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust (more commonly known as the Kent Museum of Freemasonry) for the benefit of future generations.

In 2024, to honour his memory and the family’s bequest, the Museum founded the Dr. Teddy Church Bursary to provide £1000 of funding each year.

The Museum predates the division of the Province of Kent into East and West Kent, and remains a masonic museum for both provinces.  As a result the bursary’s grants are split equally between recipients in East and West Kent.

In East Kent the bursary was established with the History Department of the University of Kent:  each year the best and second best performing students, graduating in history, receive bursary money as a prize for their achievements.

This year, the University of Kent invited  Richard White, Trustee and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Museum, to present the awards to the winners of the prize:  Mr. Ceyhan Topal (1st prize) and Mr. Matthew Marshall (2nd prize).  Richard was accompanied by his partner, Astrid, and by Ms. Anita Sala, who is the museum’s Community Engagement Manager.

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The presentation was held in Westgate Hall in Canterbury on the 29th July, and a couple of pictures were taken to record the occasion.  In the group shot we have the museum’s “delegation”, Ceylan and Dr. Robert Gallagher, Director of Studies for History at the University. 

In West Kent, there being no equivalent educational institution, the bursary instead gives grants to West Kent Scouts, to help support scouts to pay for scouting activities. 

This year bursary money was given to various scouts in need of support, including, in particular, to three young brothers whose father recently died suddenly. 

We look forward to continuing the good work of the bursary.  We are pleased to have had the opportunity of helping scouts in West Kent, and our relationship with the University of Kent is moving forward with the prospect of further community involvement in the future. 

Richard White 
PPGSwdB (East Kent), SLGR, PPSGW (Surrey)

Secretary of the Board of Trustees