2021 Winner of The Matthew Caygill Memorial Prize for History

Sophia Lambert graduated from Leeds Beckett in 2021 and is now studying MA Social and Cultural History at the University of Leeds. Alongside her degree, she works with Leeds Museums to digitise some of the photographs from the Museum’s collections as part of her project placement. Sophia was awarded The Matthew Caygill Memorial Prize for her commitment and contribution to the culture of the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities and to Leeds Museums.

Being actively involved in the wider life of the School and the University was important to me while studying at Leeds Beckett. I’ve always believed that going to university is about more than just studying, it’s also about becoming a part of the wider community and doing something that you’re passionate about. I’d encourage students to get involved in what is going on across the School because it gives you a sense of belonging and you start to feel like you’re a part of something much bigger. The key to succeeding in your studies alongside any other commitments you have is good time management. I’m not by any means perfect at this, but juggling university work with a part-time job, Course Rep responsibilities, and volunteering has really helped me to get better at it. I’ve had lots of opportunities while studying at Leeds Beckett to get involved in the life of the School and the University. I enjoyed my role as a History Course Rep while studying at Leeds Beckett because I loved representing peers and working with the other Course Reps to organise social events within the School.

The diverse range of modules on offer on the BA History programme have allowed me to pursue my passion for local history. In third year, I worked on the Leeds Blitz Project as part of the Public and the Past module. This was a fantastic opportunity to uncover more about the city’s history and share some of these previously hidden stories with the public.

I’ve also volunteered with several organisations over the past three years, which I continue to do. Until March 2020, I volunteered with the Leeds Local and Family History Library to write the descriptions for the photographs in their collections for the Leodis Photographic Archives. I also recently worked on the Leeds City Museum’s 200th birthday exhibition, where I worked with the other volunteers and project curators to choose which objects to display.

I’ve had so many fantastic opportunities while studying at Leeds Beckett that have equipped me with skills to succeed in my MA and outside of university. I feel lucky to have worked with such passionate lecturers and students within the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities at Leeds Beckett. Thank you to all the lecturers who nominated me for this prize and to everyone who has inspired me to pursue my passion for local history.

Sadly, I never met Matthew, but after hearing about the fantastic contributions that Matthew had made to the University and what he meant to everyone in the department, I feel honoured to receive the prize. Winning the prize has made me even more determined to continue contributing in any way I can to the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities, and I hope I can inspire other students to pursue their passion for history. Also, being recognised for my dedication to Leeds’ history has further ignited my passion for local history and has encouraged me to continue volunteering with Leeds Museums.