It was reported in the transactions of the Institute of Mining Engineers that at a general meeting of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers held on the 25th January 1917 at University House Leeds, Mr George Herbert Peake of Bawtry Hall, Bawtry had very generously donated £1000 to be devoted to the interests of mining and applied as the council of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers thought fit. After consultation with Mr Peake as to his wishes, the council decided that a medal be struck and this to be called the “Peake Medal”. At the meeting it was decided that the medal was to be presented from time to time to any member of the Institution who, in the opinion of the council, had carried out work or research of value to mining. It was particularly desired that the medal should be presented only for work of real value. This was recognised as the highest award a member could receive.
The Thomas W Adam medal was inaugurated to commemorate the occasion of the centenary of the Institute in 1957 and named after the long serving Secretary. Thomas Adam was Secretary of the Midland Institute for 34 years, from 1919 to 1953. The Council decided that the medal should be awarded from time-to-time for “long and meritorious service in the furtherance of the objects and enhancement of the prestige of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers”. After service in the 1914-1918 war, Major Adam was involved in the coal products section of the industry as Director of a number of companies.
The Noel E Webster medal was introduced in 1979 to be awarded on an annual basis for what was in the opinion of the Council the best paper presented to the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers at any General or Branch meeting during the previous year.
Major Webster had a long and distinguished career. After service in 1914-1918 war, he became a Colliery Manager, later setting up his own company involved mainly in strata control and subsidence, and also developing wide interests in general industry. During his period as Treasurer of the Midland Institute, the Institute’s finances were put on a very sound basis. He freely imparted, energy, enthusiasm and zest for life to all he met.
The O H Schmill medal originated in 1999 through the generosity of Mr Henry Schmill. The medal is double sided and is awarded from time-totime at the discretion of the Council of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers as recommended by its Finance and Awards committee (or any successor Committee). The medal shall be awarded to any person whether or not a member of the Institution who in the opinion of Council has made a significant and worthy contribution to the affairs of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers.
(Registered Charity No 1107616)
The Peake Fund was established through the generosity of Major George Herbert Peake 25th January 1917 to be devoted to the interests of mining and applied as the Council of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers thought fit.
After some time, monies invested in the Peake Fund were accumulating and a committee, appointed by the Council, advised that the funds should be used to provide a travelling scholarship in addition to the Peake medal.
A Trust Deed was made on the 21st March 1930 between Mr George Herbert Peake and the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers to establish the Peake Fund and set out conditions for a Travelling Scholarship and other awards.
To this day the principal award, the “Peake Travelling Scholarship” offers funds for the associated travelling and subsistence costs at home and/or abroad of successful applicants that will enable individual scholars to enhance the value of a suggested field of study related to their overall education, training and experience in the science and practice of mining engineering.
A secondary award can be made by the Trust to other suitable applicants either on a group or an individual basis who seek financial support in a field related to the advancement of education in the science and practice in mining engineering.
A Supplementary Deed was made on 8th November 1963, by the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers in which an additional £1000 was donated from its general funds.
In 1978 David Peake, a descendant of Major George Herbert Peake made a further generous donation of £2000.
Although the Peake Fund enjoyed charitable status as part of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers, on the 13th January 2005 the fund was registered with the Charity Commission in its own right as “The Peake Travelling Scholarship” and given the registered charity number 1107616.
After many years the original generous gift from George Herbert Peake and the additions, including from other sources, continues to support study related to the overall education, training and experience in the science and practice of mining engineering.
Since 1995 almost £19,000 has been distributed to members of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers in the form of Scholarships or Additional awards in line with the trust Deed.
Following closure of the Nottinghamshire Branch of the IMM and its members being invited to become members of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers, the trustees of the Midland Counties Institute of Engineers Trust Fund transferred assets to the Peake Trust Fund in 2008. The conditions of both Peake and Midland Counties funds being of a similar nature.
(Registered Charity no 1107632)
A Travelling Prize was established by the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers and was awarded by the Institute from time to time. This prize was called the Noel Webster Travelling Prize in recognition of Major Webster’s contribution to the Institute and the junior section in particular. Major Noel Edwin Webster, OBE, MC subsequently made a generous gift to establish a permanent endowment in response to which the Council of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers applied a similar sum of money to establish the fund. A Trust Deed dated 7th November 1963 between Major Webster and the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers was drawn up and the Noel Webster Travelling prize fund was established.
The principal award made by the Fund is “The Webster Travelling Scholarship”. This will be offered to fund the associated travelling and subsistence costs at home and/or abroad of successful applicants that will enable individual scholars to enhance the value of a suggested field of study related to their overall education, training and experience in the science and practice of mining engineering.
A secondary award can be made from the fund to other suitable applicants either on a group or an individual basis who seek financial support in the fields related to the advancement of education in the science and practice in mining engineering.
Although the Noel Webster Travelling prize Fund enjoyed charitable status as part of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers, on the 14th January 2005 the fund was registered with the Charity Commission in its own right as “Noel Webster Travelling prize” and given the registered charity number 1107632.
Since 1995 in excess of £37,000 has been distributed to members of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers in the form of Scholarships or Additional awards in line with the Trust Deed.
(Registered Charity No 1080526)
Mr. Henry Schmill, Chief Executive of Amalgamated Construction Company Limited proposed that the AMCO Corporation would make a generous donation to set up a Trust Fund to be known as the AMCO Bursary.
A Trust Deed was made on the 11th November 1999, by the Council of the Yorkshire Branch of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
The original objects of the AMCO Bursary was “for the charitable purpose in the enhancement of education in the science and practice of mining and or such other subject areas as may be defined by the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. In particular to provide short-term work related training for students who may have difficulties in practical instruction and work participation”.
An application was submitted to the Charity Commission on the 17th December 1999 for charity status.
A Supplemental Deed was made on the 30th March 2000 that a variation be made to the principle deed to change the wording of the objects to read”………work related training for students who may have difficulties in obtaining practical instruction and work participation”.
The AMCO Bursary was entered in the central register of Charities on the 2nd May 2000, registered number 1080526
The ex-officio trustees are “President, Immediate Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Yorkshire Branch of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy or its successor body”.
The Midland Institute of Mining Engineers is the successor body and the trustees continue to distribute funds in line with the trust deed.