UCLan student wins first annual Hesketh Award to commemorate former student

By UK Journalism

Tom Hyde, a second year student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), has been awarded the first annual Matthew Hesketh award for Sports Journalism.

Launched in memory of Matthew Hesketh, a former UCLan Sports Journalism student who died tragically in a car accident, the Award was presented to Tom at a ceremony on Thursday, 1st May.

Matthew, from Preston, was an avid sports fan and supporter of Chelsea F.C. To celebrate his life, the University has teamed up with the football club to award the student who achieves the highest marks in the first 18 months of the course with a trophy and a month’s placement at the Chelsea F.C. media office.

The winner of the award is one of Matthew’s contemporaries from the 2006 intake, 20-year-old Tom Hyde, who achieved the highest mark in the second year. His projects have included creating a TV package looking at the role of the Bolton Wanderers kit manager, and a radio interview with representatives of Manchester City Football Club.

Real honour

Tom said: “It is a real honour to be named the first winner of the award and I think the award is a great tribute to Matthew; he was a big sports fan and I think he would have approved.”

Journalism Lecturer, Charlie Lambert commented: “Matthew was a very capable and popular student who is still very much missed around the department, so we are delighted to be able to present this award to Tom in his memory.”

Preston North End Manager Alan Irvine made the formal presentation to Tom Hyde and Matthew’s father, Andy Hesketh, also addressed the students.

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BA(Hons)Sport Journalism
Chelsea FC

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