ANJOOL MALDE AWARDS 2026 – DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MATTHEW HALL

Set up in 2010 as a legacy to Anjool Maldé (1984-2009) - Jools to his friends - the Trust makes annual awards across several categories with prize money to a selection of the UK’s talented best young individuals with a special edge to their achievements. The Awards encourage all young individuals to 'do well, do good' in their lives and careers.

Tom Latchford (of LocalGiving, sponsor of the Anjool Maldé Social Enterprise Award until recently, issued this statement after his move to California): "Anjool had a profound effect on my life. I was younger than him and dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur. I reached out to him for advice as I looked up to him. I asked many people for help in those days. Most were too busy. Anjool wasn’t. He listened. He took an interest. He encouraged me. He spent a few hours helping me launch my company, which was super inspiring. It was a small act of generosity towards someone he barely knew. What stayed with me was not his success or his popularity; it was his kindness".

It seems appropriate therefore to adopt kindness and generosity that Tom refers to as the theme for this year’s Report, as this very ethos is embedded in the other important individuals that this year’s Awards celebrate - Matt Hall and Ken Eason.

Rick Saunders: “Matthew Hall was a senior colleague of Jools’ and was at Deutsche Bank from 2007 until his untimely death in December 2011. As one of the senior managers in the equity business, he was the source of much wisdom and had a particular interest in mentoring and promoting the younger members of the sales team. Some personal advice that he offered directly, during the period of the global financial crisis, proved to be of sufficient benefit to one of those who received it for them to make a generous donation recently to the Trust. The Trust takes great satisfaction in dedicating this year's Awards to Matthew's memory. Those who knew Matthew will remember that he celebrated individuality and offered generous encouragement always. For the Trust to remember Matthew in this special way, therefore, is a tribute in equal measure to Jools, who embodied so many of the qualities that Matthew cherished and to Matthew himself, whose influence has endured to such positive effect”.

Professor Ken Eason: Followers of the Trust and the Awards will remember Ken Eason, who sadly passed away in early 2026, for the various roles he played for the Trust as advisor, supporter, judge, and summariser. He is especially remembered by Anjool’s father, Bharat, whose association with Ken dates back to the early 70s when Ken started life as an academic at Loughborough University, and Bharat as an undergrad. Ken was a kind and generous man who helped guide and shape many careers - Bharat was his first of many PhD students at Loughborough and Ken remained a key influence over his life and career. The Trust takes great pleasure in sponsoring the exciting Ken Eason Design Award, launched in June 2026 at Loughborough. (The Award will now subsume previous design and innovation awards sponsored by the Trust and will cover all of design, innovation, and enterprise, particularly the social and human dimension).

2026 AWARDS:

• DESIGN, INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE – Ken Eason Design Award

(Hosts: School of Design & Arts, Loughborough University. Sponsor: The Anjool Maldé Trust)

Loughborough issued the following statement in support of the Award as a legacy to Ken: "Ken Eason was a world-leading academic who significantly developed the field of Human Factors & Ergonomics and Sociotechnical Systems. Ken was emeritus professor of cognitive ergonomics at Loughborough University. Ken is remembered for his kindness, integrity, and good nature. He was always ready to provide wise advice, mentorship and counsel to colleagues and students. Further details of Ken’s work are available in this obituary which appeared in The Guardian: Ken Eason obituary | Technology | The Guardian" (Professor Patrick Waterson, School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University).

Winners: Sarah Brown (BA Industrial Design), Samuel Skelcher-Maxwell (BA Industrial Design), Oliver Starke (BSc Product Design and Technology), Isabelle Stoneham (BA Design)

PHOTOS 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D

Judges: “The following achievers impressed and led us to pick as winners. They all had a strong human factors element based on thorough research, understanding user needs and testing a prototype with a potential user or users”.

Sarah Brown (Cadence, Photo 1A) carried out a comprehensive human factors study that led to the design of a compact hand-held device, allowing amputees to benefit from massage tools for consistent limb care. Samuel Skelcher-Maxwell (The Travel Chair, Photo 1B) analysed the problem of people with limited mobility travelling by air. His project led to the creation of a specialised chair which could be used to travel through an airport, board a plane and move around within it in a seamless way. Isabelle Stoneham (GrAdule, Photo 1C) created a design that enables undergraduate students to learn from past students (Alumni) and practise workplace skills before applying for jobs. Physical device and cards would remind the student to keep their skills polished in readiness for starting a job. Oli Starke (new.stride, Photo 1D) studied the walking activity of people with Parkinson’s disease. He created a fully researched and tested system of simple devices attached to the body that help prevent and overcome joint freezes that can occur while walking.

Oli Starke (Winner): “Winning the Ken Eason Human-Centred Design Award was especially meaningful because my final year project was inspired by my own experience helping my grandad with his late-stage Parkinson's Disease. It is a recognition I'll be proud to include in my portfolio as I begin my career in product design, and it has strengthened my commitment to developing products that make a genuine difference to people's lives”.

• SCHOLARSHIP AT ST PETER’S OXFORD: The Anjool Maldé Scholarship

Winners: Charlie Bach (Y2 Physics), Hannah Russell (Y2 Archaeology and Anthropology), Lucy Butlin (Y2 Music), Jia (Anders) Hei (Y2 Modern Languages (Spanish and Portuguese), Megan Radcliffe (Y3 Theology and Religion)

PHOTO 2

Professor Judith Buchanan (Master): "This outstanding scholarship programme, established in memory of our former student Anjool, not only gives some of our most talented students a valuable boost in confidence at an important stage of their education, but also offers meaningful financial assistance. Each year, we are proud to celebrate both their academic achievements and their exceptional contribution to the community, and to see the positive impact the award has on them. One of the highlights of the year for me is the moment when we make these distinctive awards. Tutors’ nominations of their students are read out, detailing what they respect and admire in their nominees and how they have been investing their considerable talents. In this way, the students themselves hear exactly why they have been chosen for this honour and the rest of us get to recognise the wonderful community contributions being made by the remarkable young people in front of us. The award matters for those who receive it, and we are glad to take the opportunity each year to remember Anjool and the lasting legacy he leaves within our community."

Charlie Bach (Winner): "On behalf of all this year’s winners, I would like to say how proud we are to have been awarded this Scholarship. It is an honour to be recognised not only for our academic achievements at St Peter’s College, but also for the ways in which we engage with our wider interests and contribute to the broader community. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Anjool’s parents and Trust for their generous and ongoing support of talented, ambitious, and community-minded young people. Their commitment to this Scholarship is a fitting tribute to the memory of their son, who clearly embodied these same qualities".

• MUSIC - The Anjool Maldé Jazz Prize 2026

(Hosts: The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama)

Winner: Tom Barber, MA Jazz (Year 2)

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Dr. Andrew Bain (FHEA, RWCMD Head of Jazz):

“Here at RWCMD Jazz, we are extremely honoured to be in receipt of the Anjool Maldé Jazz Prize. Given each year to one of our most gifted jazz students, it is such a privilege for the award-winner to receive both recognition of their outstanding musicianship, but also the essential funds that will kick-start their professional career. We thank you for the support”.

“Tom Barber is an exceptional pianist and improviser. When searching for ideal MA Jazz applicants, we look for excellent self-directed learners, students that can devote a significant amount of time across the undergrad/postgrad departments, and a musician who pushes the boundaries for all students: Tom has met and exceeded in all of those qualities. Extremely busy as a side player, a creative bandleader, an emerging jazz researcher of note, and awarded a distinction for his MA Jazz, Tom is extremely deserving and worthy of the Anjool Maldé Jazz Prize 2026. On graduation, he will be a superb ambassador for the jazz course here at RWCMD”.

Tom Barber (Winner): “I am extremely honoured to receive the Anjool Maldé Jazz Prize 2026. I'd like to express my thanks to Andrew and RWCMD for the nomination, as well as everyone from the Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust for supporting the College with this award. The award will be a significant help towards the production and release of my debut recording as a bandleader”. (See Notes)

• PHOTOGRAPHY – The Anjool Maldé Photography Award

(Hosts: Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland)

Winner: Roo Ford for the winning portfolio Not Your Enemy

PHOTOS 4 & 4A

Dr Emile Shemilt (Programme Leader for Photography): “The award has become an enduring highlight of our Degree Show and continues to provide a meaningful opportunity to recognise outstanding work each year. Our Judge for this year's Award had this to say about the Winner:

Carine Harmand (Judge) (The John Ellerman Foundation Curator, Tate Liverpool):

"Roo's project NOT YOUR ENEMY shows the potential of art to build communities of kinship and solidarity. The photographs intervened in public space, asserting the natural right of trans people to exist. Reactions of both rejection and embrace turned the work into not only a social experiment but social action itself. Strangers gathered and organised to show their support and defend the work: a beautiful proof that photography doesn't just record; it has the power to reframe the way we see the world and to bring people closer".

Roo Ford (Winner): “A year ago this week I had gender reassignment surgery. Many times throughout my recovery I questioned whether I would be able to graduate alongside my class. So, to not only be standing here today, but to have received this award in recognition of my major project, as an affirmation of the importance of authentic documentation and compassion, means so much to me and to the community members involved in the project”.

• JOURNALISM: The Anjool Maldé Journalism Award 2026

(Hosts: Film & Broadcast Production QUB, Belfast)

Winners: Eva Madden and Georgia McPoland

PHOTOS 5A, 5B

Judges: "We picked Media & Broadcast Production final year students Eva Madden and Georgia McPoland as the recipients of this year’s Anjool Maldé Journalism Award for their documentary 'History on our Hands'. In 'History on our Hands', the students explore the visual iconography of the Claddagh ring, its history and recent resurgence in contemporary fashion".

Eva & Georgia (Winners): “We’re delighted to be this year’s recipients of the Anjool Maldé Journalism Award for our documentary History On Our Hands. We both learnt so much about the revival of the claddagh and the threat that fast fashion poses on Irish craftsmanship while making this piece, and to be recognised for it is a real honour. It was a privilege to be able to share a story that is so close to both of our hearts, and we’re both motivated to continue doing so throughout our careers”.

CLOSING COMMENT: Rick Saunders: "For those of us who played a part in founding the Trust in 2010, it brings enormous pleasure to reflect that over 200 young adults have now been recognised for their achievements and for their creative contributions to the communities of which they are part. The accomplishments of those who have received awards in 2026 rank amongst the most impressive yet and there can be no finer tribute to the memory of Matthew Hall and of Ken Eason than to remember them through this association. It is a privilege to pass on congratulations to the winners and to wish them continued success. Those who play a part in the Trust’s mission do so because at its heart, it is life-reaffirming and exists to celebrate those who make the future more exciting to contemplate. In whatever capacity they serve, whether as judges, or donors, or helpers or supporters, the Trust could not thrive without their kindness and their generosity and they deserve our utmost thanks.

-ENDS-

NOTES:

# Press Release distribution courtesy Pressat (pressat.co.uk)

# Anjool Maldé Awards Press Contact – Gemma Shaw ([email protected])

# Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust (www.anjool.org)

# Tom Barber Quintet: https://youtu.be/k48EZcYDwWc?si=VXqEMxRLYPjg5kcO

# RWCMD AmserJazzTime – Friday 3rd July 2026:

https://www.youtube.com/live/kY0YJgHy3- M?si=4bp323W5CBIkDtek