The Annual Student Awards
Every year the National Institute of Medical Herbalists presents ten awards in recognition of academic achievement to students of herbal medicine. This the background to those awards.
The Arthur Barker Award for the best Final Examinations (1st and 2nd prize)
Arthur Barker was a former President of the NAMH who upheld the highest traditions of herbal medicine throughout a long life. Arthur Barker worked and fought for freedom to practise and came up against the attack of the medical hierarchy. At Stoke upon Trent he was hounded and prosecuted on the death of a patient whom the orthodoxy had failed to heal. On his release from prison the town band and a huge crowd welcomed him out.
Arthur Barker was a persuasive leader with a clear vision of the vital importance of education and training for the profession.
A man of high moral standing, a devoted Christian, who was distinguished as President Emeritus on his retirement from practice at an advanced age.
The Henry Potter Award for the best First Year Students (2 awards)
Potter’s Herbal Supplies have been the leaders in Herbal Medicine supplies for more than 175 years. Founded by Henry Potter I in the early 1800s, he called himself a ‘seedsman, herbalist and dealer in leeches’. He prospered with his leeches and also saw the herbal and seed side of the company expand by leaps and bounds. The company was taken over by his nephew, Henry Potter II, in 1846. In 1862, Henry Potter III entered the business as a boy of 14, and it was he who was really responsible for its future prosperity. After his death in 1928, other family members carried on the business until 1952, when it re-organised under new management and moved to Wigan, Lancashire.
The Hugh Mitchell Award for Materia Medica
Hugh Mitchell has been a friend of the NIMH for probably fifty years or so. He began work as an apprentice herb buyer at 14 years old and worked in the herb industry all his life. He was the main herb buyer for Brome and Schimmer for many years and what he doesn’t know about herbs probably isn’t worth knowing! Mr Mitchell was a founder member of the BHMA, and is the father-in-law of Victor Perfitt, who was for many years its President. Mr Mitchell generously gave the NIMH money for a student prize to encourage knowledge of the herbal material medica. He was a friend of the Hyde family, and so was closely bound into the Institute.
The Thomas Bartram Award – Part 1 Examination in Anatomy and Physiology
After seventeen years in hospital service Mr Bartram met the well-known East Midlands herbalist, Mr Edgar G Jones, who changed his life by converting him to Medical Herbalism. Once a dyed-in-the-wool orthodox professional, he perceived in herbalism the elements of true pharmacy and the healing potential of plants.
Mr Bartram won the Potter Prizes for both the Primary and Final examinations of the Institute in the 1940s and set up his first practice in Leicester. After three years he moved to Bournemouth, where he had previously held a senior hospital appointment, and built up a successful private practice which continued for over thirty years. One-time Editor of Health and Herbs magazine of the NIMH, he now publishes Grace magazine which is in its 35th year.
Mr Bartram served as a member of the NIMH Council in the 1950s and founded Gerrard House in 1958.
The Dorothy Carroll Award for the Best Clinical Examination
This award was given in memory of a wonderful person and an excellent herbalist. After leaving school, Dorothy trained as a nurse, first gaining the orthopaedic nursing certificate and then qualifying as a state registered nurse at Leicester Royal Infirmary. After working there as a staff nurse she became a district nurse and qualified as a Queen’s nurse. She also got married and started a family. Her interest in herbal medicine came later, and as a student she received much help from Arthur Hyde, afterwards working at Hyde’s Herbal Clinic until a few months before her early death.
Dorothy was a dedicated herbalist with a true calling for helping people, and was also a first class teacher. For some years she ran the Coventry teaching clinic on Saturdays and was a great inspiration to her students. Nothing was too much trouble; besides considerable family problems and commitments she pushed herself to her limit to help students by letter and telephone. She also served on the council of the Institute for several years.
Dorothy’s death was a great loss to the Institute and a tragedy for her patients, friends and students, not to mention her husband and four children. She fought her long, painful illness with amazing, but typical courage, which was a tribute to her strong Christian faith.
The Ernest Cockayne Award for the Brightest Character
Ernest Cockayne was one of the grand old men in Herbal Medicine, practising in the north of England. He had a huge sense of fun in his life and skilled adventure in his prescribing. He rose high in the ranks of the NIMH. He became Principal Emeritus of the NIMH and was in every way a bright character. This award celebrates his memory and is awarded to different graduate schools on rotation. The award is maintained by Keith Robertson of the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and celebrates those bright characters who will no doubt play a key role in the future of the profession.
The Nigel Wynn Award for Innovative Projects (7 prizes)
How gladdening it is to be able to look back to memories of Nigel Wynn by looking forward to the herbalists of the future. I knew Nigel as convivial and gregarious with a quirky sense of humour born of an original view on life. I think others have considered this during the design of this inclusive award for originality linked to herbal projects. Such a spirit of togetherness is worth celebrating. Richard Adams
Rutland Biodynamics Ltd is delighted to be able to sponsor these prizes in which every NIMH accredited school is asked to nominate a student work. We hope that Nigel would approve this small contribution of greater egalitarianism in the way the spirit of herbal medicine is perfused.
The Michael Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement
Michael became interested in herbal medicine in the mid 1970s and was accepted for training by the NIMH. During the four and a half years of tuition that followed, he and another student ran the administrative side of a highly successful Coventry student training clinic. The clinic was organised from within the practice of a local naturopath, osteopath and herbal practitioner, from who Michael would later receive training in naturopathy.
In 1980 Michael graduated with distinction from the School of Herbal Medicine at Tunbridge Wells and was received into membership of the NIMH. Deciding to specialise in herbal medicine and naturopathy, notably the treatment of back problems, he embarked on a further two years of study and completed a diploma in naturopathy. In 1986 he decided to deepen his understanding of the naturopathic method of diagnosis, and he studied and completed a diploma in iridology.
Michael died on 24th June 2005, aged 54 years. On deciding to become a medical herbalist, he gave his all to become the best; he overcame many obstacles in his life to achieve his goal and was respected by the many who came across him, both professionally and personally. His family have donated this award in his memory, to be given to a graduating student who has overcome significant obstacles in order to qualify as a medical herbalist.
The Trillium Award
The title of this award is derived from the Trillium flower, a fragile plant which grows slowly, taking up to fifteen years to mature and flower. In some areas of the world this plant is protected, and has been chosen as a floral emblem. The elegant white blossoms of the Trillium flower are associated with peace and hope, and its symbol is often used to recognize a work of excellence.
The study of Phytotherapy is especially of interest to the award donor, and they would like to contribute to its continual growth, recognition and love of through this token that has been offered.
Phytotherapy is a field that will both challenge and reward the winner immensely, yet his or her role, along with others in this field, is of utmost importance.
Arthur Barker was a former President of the NAMH who upheld the highest traditions of herbal medicine throughout a long life. Arthur Barker worked and fought for freedom to practise and came up against the attack of the medical hierarchy. At Stoke upon Trent he was hounded and prosecuted on the death of a patient whom the orthodoxy had failed to heal. On his release from prison the town band and a huge crowd welcomed him out.
Arthur Barker was a persuasive leader with a clear vision of the vital importance of education and training for the profession.
A man of high moral standing, a devoted Christian, who was distinguished as President Emeritus on his retirement from practice at an advanced age.
The Henry Potter Award for the best First Year Students (2 awards)
Potter’s Herbal Supplies have been the leaders in Herbal Medicine supplies for more than 175 years. Founded by Henry Potter I in the early 1800s, he called himself a ‘seedsman, herbalist and dealer in leeches’. He prospered with his leeches and also saw the herbal and seed side of the company expand by leaps and bounds. The company was taken over by his nephew, Henry Potter II, in 1846. In 1862, Henry Potter III entered the business as a boy of 14, and it was he who was really responsible for its future prosperity. After his death in 1928, other family members carried on the business until 1952, when it re-organised under new management and moved to Wigan, Lancashire.
The Hugh Mitchell Award for Materia Medica
Hugh Mitchell has been a friend of the NIMH for probably fifty years or so. He began work as an apprentice herb buyer at 14 years old and worked in the herb industry all his life. He was the main herb buyer for Brome and Schimmer for many years and what he doesn’t know about herbs probably isn’t worth knowing! Mr Mitchell was a founder member of the BHMA, and is the father-in-law of Victor Perfitt, who was for many years its President. Mr Mitchell generously gave the NIMH money for a student prize to encourage knowledge of the herbal material medica. He was a friend of the Hyde family, and so was closely bound into the Institute.
The Thomas Bartram Award – Part 1 Examination in Anatomy and Physiology
After seventeen years in hospital service Mr Bartram met the well-known East Midlands herbalist, Mr Edgar G Jones, who changed his life by converting him to Medical Herbalism. Once a dyed-in-the-wool orthodox professional, he perceived in herbalism the elements of true pharmacy and the healing potential of plants.
Mr Bartram won the Potter Prizes for both the Primary and Final examinations of the Institute in the 1940s and set up his first practice in Leicester. After three years he moved to Bournemouth, where he had previously held a senior hospital appointment, and built up a successful private practice which continued for over thirty years. One-time Editor of Health and Herbs magazine of the NIMH, he now publishes Grace magazine which is in its 35th year.
Mr Bartram served as a member of the NIMH Council in the 1950s and founded Gerrard House in 1958.
The Dorothy Carroll Award for the Best Clinical Examination
This award was given in memory of a wonderful person and an excellent herbalist. After leaving school, Dorothy trained as a nurse, first gaining the orthopaedic nursing certificate and then qualifying as a state registered nurse at Leicester Royal Infirmary. After working there as a staff nurse she became a district nurse and qualified as a Queen’s nurse. She also got married and started a family. Her interest in herbal medicine came later, and as a student she received much help from Arthur Hyde, afterwards working at Hyde’s Herbal Clinic until a few months before her early death.
Dorothy was a dedicated herbalist with a true calling for helping people, and was also a first class teacher. For some years she ran the Coventry teaching clinic on Saturdays and was a great inspiration to her students. Nothing was too much trouble; besides considerable family problems and commitments she pushed herself to her limit to help students by letter and telephone. She also served on the council of the Institute for several years.
Dorothy’s death was a great loss to the Institute and a tragedy for her patients, friends and students, not to mention her husband and four children. She fought her long, painful illness with amazing, but typical courage, which was a tribute to her strong Christian faith.
The Ernest Cockayne Award for the Brightest Character
Ernest Cockayne was one of the grand old men in Herbal Medicine, practising in the north of England. He had a huge sense of fun in his life and skilled adventure in his prescribing. He rose high in the ranks of the NIMH. He became Principal Emeritus of the NIMH and was in every way a bright character. This award celebrates his memory and is awarded to different graduate schools on rotation. The award is maintained by Keith Robertson of the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and celebrates those bright characters who will no doubt play a key role in the future of the profession.
The Nigel Wynn Award for Innovative Projects (7 prizes)
How gladdening it is to be able to look back to memories of Nigel Wynn by looking forward to the herbalists of the future. I knew Nigel as convivial and gregarious with a quirky sense of humour born of an original view on life. I think others have considered this during the design of this inclusive award for originality linked to herbal projects. Such a spirit of togetherness is worth celebrating. Richard Adams
Rutland Biodynamics Ltd is delighted to be able to sponsor these prizes in which every NIMH accredited school is asked to nominate a student work. We hope that Nigel would approve this small contribution of greater egalitarianism in the way the spirit of herbal medicine is perfused.
The Michael Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement
Michael became interested in herbal medicine in the mid 1970s and was accepted for training by the NIMH. During the four and a half years of tuition that followed, he and another student ran the administrative side of a highly successful Coventry student training clinic. The clinic was organised from within the practice of a local naturopath, osteopath and herbal practitioner, from who Michael would later receive training in naturopathy.
In 1980 Michael graduated with distinction from the School of Herbal Medicine at Tunbridge Wells and was received into membership of the NIMH. Deciding to specialise in herbal medicine and naturopathy, notably the treatment of back problems, he embarked on a further two years of study and completed a diploma in naturopathy. In 1986 he decided to deepen his understanding of the naturopathic method of diagnosis, and he studied and completed a diploma in iridology.
Michael died on 24th June 2005, aged 54 years. On deciding to become a medical herbalist, he gave his all to become the best; he overcame many obstacles in his life to achieve his goal and was respected by the many who came across him, both professionally and personally. His family have donated this award in his memory, to be given to a graduating student who has overcome significant obstacles in order to qualify as a medical herbalist.
The Trillium Award
The title of this award is derived from the Trillium flower, a fragile plant which grows slowly, taking up to fifteen years to mature and flower. In some areas of the world this plant is protected, and has been chosen as a floral emblem. The elegant white blossoms of the Trillium flower are associated with peace and hope, and its symbol is often used to recognize a work of excellence.
The study of Phytotherapy is especially of interest to the award donor, and they would like to contribute to its continual growth, recognition and love of through this token that has been offered.
Phytotherapy is a field that will both challenge and reward the winner immensely, yet his or her role, along with others in this field, is of utmost importance.
Member Login
