On Saturday 11 July, we were delighted to celebrate the winners of the inaugural Tony Hibbert Prize at Trebah.
The theme for the 2026 competition was ‘Cornwall At War’. We welcomed prize winners, their families, and teachers from schools across Cornwall to recognise some truly outstanding entries. The creativity, insight, and passion for history on display were fantastic and a testament to the talent of young people across our county.
The prize, created by Prof. Catriona Pennell and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall (University of Exeter), is delivered in partnership between the Hibbert family and Trebah Garden. It celebrates not only Major Tony Hibbert’s legacy but also the importance of history and the humanities in helping us understand the world around us. As a department, Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to play our role as a civic anchor in Cornwall, working with schools and communities to inspire the next generation of historians.
Huge thanks to Chris Hibbert for sharing stories of his father and presenting prizes, Professor Martin Siegert for joining us to celebrate the winners, the team at Trebah for hosting the event, and to the Advisory Board and Judging Panel for making the prize such a success.
Most importantly, congratulations to all the entrants and winners. At a time when arts and humanities subjects are asked to justify their value, the prize entries are the perfect answer to that challenge demonstrating creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate ideas powerfully – qualities our society need now more than ever.
