Congratulations to Leicester alumnus David Holmes whose 2009 PhD thesis on ‘Development of the boot and shoe industry in Leicester during the nineteenth century’ has been recognised with an award from the British Association for Local History. Researched within our famous Centre for English Local History, David’s project was named joint overall winner in the annual BALH awards.

Another Leicester graduate, Erica Statham, who received her MA from the Centre for ELH, also received an award from the Association. This was for 'Do it with Pride: working lives at Joseph Johnson’s* department store’, co-written with Edna Blake and published in Leicestershire Historian, the annual publication of the University-hosted Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society.

Professor David Hey, a former lecturer in English Local History at Leicester, presented the awards last week in London.

*Joseph Johnson's was situated where Fenwick's now stands.