46 Young Cornish Stars Share £58,000 in Lord Lieutenant Awards

A 14-year-old footballer training with Plymouth Argyle, an Olympic-pathway archer ranked first in the country, and a surf ski paddler crowned Under-23 World Champion. They are just three of the names that walked away with grants from Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant last night.

A total of 46 young people from across the Duchy were handed certificates at St Austell Brewery, sharing more than £58,000 between them through the latest round of Young & Talented Cornwall grants.

The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE, presented the awards at a ceremony hosted by the brewery, which is marking its 175th anniversary this year.

A wide spread of talent

The list of recipients reads like a snapshot of just how varied young Cornish ambition can be. Sailors, netballers, fashion designers, karate athletes, surfers, majorette performers and Olympic archers were all recognised, alongside young people excelling in music, dance, mining engineering, marine biology, aviation science and photography.

Awards were made across two categories. The All Talent strand covers sport and the arts, while the Spirit of Trevithick category supports young people working in STEM fields. Spirit of Trevithick recipients also gain access to mentoring from some of Cornwall’s leading businesses.

Two decades of backing young people

The fund was launched in 2005 by the then Lord Lieutenant Lady Mary Holborow and Vice Lord Lieutenant Michael Galsworthy, originally under the name The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Youth. Over the past 21 years, it has handed out more than £650,000 to over 500 young people aged 14 to 23.

Edward said: “Following a landmark year in 2025, when we celebrated 20 years of Young & Talented Cornwall, we have been truly encouraged by both the volume and calibre of applications in this latest round. Our standards remain deliberately high, recognising exceptional talent while taking into account the challenges many applicants face.”

He added: “The results over the past two decades speak for themselves, with many former recipients progressing to compete and perform at national and international level. This fund demonstrates the transformative power of support, and the importance of believing in young people.”

📷The latest cohort of Young & Talented Cornwall grant recipients. Shown here with Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho and St Austell Brewery Marketing & Communications Director, Laura Plum. Image credit: Toby Weller

A brewery marking 175 years

St Austell Brewery has been a long-standing supporter of the fund and hosted the presentation evening.

Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive of St Austell Brewery, said: “Investing in young people across Cornwall is not just a responsibility; it is a privilege. As we mark 175 years of St Austell Brewery, supporting the next generation of talent feels especially meaningful. These young people represent the future of our communities and our economy, and by backing their ambitions we are helping to ensure Cornwall’s talent has the opportunity to thrive, both here at home and on the global stage.”

The full list of recipients

All Talent

Adam Ryall, pool player, St Teath. An England U18 pool player and the only Cornish and South West representative in the national U18 squad, currently ranked top in the country. Adam has won 31 of 32 frames across regional competition, claimed the English Pool Association Southern Tour title and reached the quarter finals of the European Championships. As Captain of the Cornwall U18 team, he mentors younger players. Funding will support international travel, competition costs and equipment.

Tilly Moore, netball player, Camborne. Aged 17, Tilly competes within the Bath Netball Performance Pathway and performs at a high level in Division One and regional competition. She also coaches younger athletes locally. Funding will support travel and training costs.

Jacob Lamboll, sprinter, Newquay. Jacob competes at national senior level and ranks among Cornwall’s fastest athletes in both the 200m and 400m, with multiple championship titles and recent top-four finishes at BUCS competitions. He supports younger athletes in training. Funding will support competition travel, coaching and kit.

Everlyn Brindle, dancer, Newquay. Everlyn trains over 17 hours a week across ballet, contemporary and pointe, progressing through advanced RAD grades with high merit. Funding will support accommodation for residential training costs.

Jessica Patterson, sailor, Wadebridge. 16-year-old Jessica is a member of the British Youth Sailing Team and competes internationally in the Nacra 15 class, with strong results at UK, European and World level. She also teaches sailing locally. Funding will support training, competition entry and travel along the Olympic pathway.

Reuben Lodge, fashion designer, Newquay. In his final year, Reuben is preparing a graduate collection inspired by Cornwall’s culture and environment, having gained previous experience at leading fashion houses. Funding will contribute towards materials, production and presentation costs.

Leo Solly, swimmer, Lostwithiel. Aged 16, Leo competes at national and international level and is working towards qualification for the British Championships. He volunteers as a coach and acts as a sports ambassador. Funding will support training, competition costs and equipment.

Sunny Ingram, elite surfer, Mount Hawke. 16-year-old Sunny represents England and competes on the international junior circuit, with recent podium finishes at national level. She supports younger surfers and is working towards lifesaving qualifications. Funding will assist with travel, coaching and equipment.

Evie Pascoe, majorette, Camborne. Evie has won numerous individual and team titles over many years and has been selected to represent England at the World Championships. Funding will support travel, accommodation and competition costs.

Lola Bleakley, longboard surfer, St Buryan. Aged 18, Lola is a multiple British champion and three-time European Junior Vice Champion. She is also pursuing further study and contributes locally through coaching. Funding will support international competition travel and equipment.

Reggie Roynon, longboard surfer, St Buryan. Reggie has won titles across British and English junior tours and finished second on the European Junior Tour. He works as a qualified lifeguard and surf instructor. Funding will support international competition travel.

Rosie Edwards, surf ski paddler, St Buryan. Part of Team GB, Rosie is Under-23 World Champion in ocean racing and finished third overall female at the World Ocean Racing Championships. She also coaches and mentors. Funding will support travel and competition costs.

Lili Shaw, dancer, Stoke Climsland. Lili trains in ballet, contemporary and acro, and has performed with English Youth Ballet. Funding will support course fees, accommodation and equipment.

Florence Jubb, multi-instrumentalist, Falmouth. A jazz saxophonist who performs with the Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra, Florence has achieved a distinction at Grade 8. Funding will contribute towards advanced tuition and a professional instrument.

Harry Kessell, folk musician and singer-songwriter, Carn Brea. Harry performs solo and in collaborative groups, promoting traditional Cornish music across the UK and Europe, and runs community music sessions. Funding will support sound equipment.

Woody Ray, photographer, St Ives. Woody specialises in marine and natural history photography, with exhibitions across the UK and internationally. Funding will support travel, equipment and production costs for an international project.

Lola Walpole, surfer and skateboarder, Mount Hawke. Lola competes nationally and is currently ranked among the top athletes in UK vert skateboarding. Funding will support training, travel and equipment.

Benjamin Jarram, pool player, St Teath. Benjamin competes regularly in national pool tournaments and also competes in darts at a high level. Funding will support travel and accommodation costs.

Marah Ali, footballer, St Buryan. Aged 14, Marah plays for multiple teams including Plymouth Argyle and the Junior Premier League, and has been selected for England training pathways. Funding will contribute towards travel, training and competition costs.

Matteo Symons-Chan, sprint athlete, Wadebridge. Matteo is ranked among the top U17 and U20 sprinters in the UK, a county record holder and national semi-finalist. Funding will support training, competition entry and equipment.

Rozen Guthrie, karate athlete, St Issey. Rozen has won multiple world, British, English and Welsh titles representing England, and has achieved a 2nd Dan black belt. Funding will support competition travel, entry fees and kit.

Tess Holtaway, surf lifesaving athlete, Gwinear-Gwithian and St Erth. A multiple national champion across disciplines for more than six years, Tess is targeting Great Britain youth team selection. Funding will support travel and equipment.

Benjamin Glover, dancer, Redruth. Benjamin trained at Bird College and was awarded a First in Musical Theatre, with professional credits across stage and performance. Funding will support classes, auditions and professional development.

Cara McGrane, surf lifesaving athlete, Truro. Cara competes at county and national level with strong results in ocean events and selection for the Celtic Cup. Funding will support training and equipment.

Thomas Marsden, event rider, Probus. Thomas competes at a high level in British Eventing and is working towards potential Junior European selection. Funding will support travel, training and competition costs.

Charlie Knights, tetrathlon athlete, Wendron. Charlie has qualified for national finals within a year of taking up shooting. Funding will support training and equipment.

Eleanor Dash, rower, Gulval and Heamoor. Eleanor has represented Great Britain at U23 level and is part of the GB development pathway. Funding will support training and competition costs.

Alfie Cummins, basketball player, Newquay. Alfie competes across national and international levels and has been selected to play and train in Serbia. Funding will support travel and equipment.

Holly Tyack, skateboarder, Threemilestone. Holly is ranked among the top female riders in the UK with multiple podium finishes. Funding will support travel and equipment.

Finlay Lyall, double bass player, Stithians. Finlay has secured a place at the Royal Academy of Music. Funding will support instrument maintenance and transport.

Maisy New, singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Wadebridge. Maisy has performed at major festivals and had music featured on the BBC. Funding will support recording and music equipment.

Isabella Rowe, BMX rider, Mount Hawke. A British Champion and multiple title holder, Isabella has represented Team GB. Funding will support competition travel and equipment.

Thomas Lock, contemporary dancer, Wadebridge. Part of the All Boys Dance Company, Thomas recently represented Cornwall at the Houses of Parliament. Funding will support training and travel.

Saffron Knowles, Olympic recurve archer, St Austell. Saffron is ranked first nationally at U16 level and is part of the GB Olympic pathway with multiple national records. Funding will support international competition costs.

Spirit of Trevithick (STEM)

Arthur Axe, engineer, St Keverne and Meneage. Arthur has strong practical skills in CAD, CNC machining and design, focused on improving accessibility to high-quality manufacturing systems.

Sol Guimaraes, mathematician, Penryn. A STEM student focused on physics and mathematics, Sol is engaged in advanced research into muon scattering and tutors GCSE students.

Amber Johnson, scientist, Troon and Beacon. Amber’s work explores the antibacterial properties of natural substances, combining experimental and analytical approaches.

Phoebe Seaber, biomedical scientist, Mevagissey. A biomedical sciences undergraduate with ambitions in clinical psychology, focused on behavioural and psychological health.

Jonah Streeter, aviation scientist, Newquay. Jonah is an aspiring aviation professional with a focus on sustainable flight, aiming to support the future of aviation in rural areas.

Lucas Fletcher, engineer, Mullion. Lucas has interests spanning aerospace and marine engineering sectors, motivated by understanding how engineering operates across different industries.

Joel Roberts, mining engineer, Camborne. Inspired by Cornwall’s heritage and future industry, Joel is pursuing work experience and engaging with current developments in mining.

Ellie Hindson, natural scientist, Truro. A Cambridge Natural Sciences student with a passion for interdisciplinary research, particularly in quantum and cold matter physics.

Maiwen Macleod-Smith, biochemist, Hayle. An aspiring biochemist engaged in projects, competitions and academic programmes, with interests in applying science to improve health outcomes.

Jasmine Edwards, marine biologist, Penzance. Jasmine combines hands-on conservation work with community engagement and education, focused on the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems.

Daisy-Grace Whitham-Gunn, physicist, Truro. Daisy-Grace’s interests range from particle physics to biogerontology, and she mentors younger students alongside her own advanced research.

Noah Martin, marine engineer, Truro. Noah has strong practical experience and a clear pathway into the marine sector through hands-on training and industry exposure.

Applications now open

Young & Talented Cornwall is administered by Cornwall Community Foundation and supported by Seasalt Cornwall, Cornish Lithium, Watson-Marlow, Wildanet, Cornish Metals, Rodda’s, St Austell Brewery, Falmouth University, University of Exeter, Pendennis Shipyard, Impress51, St Austell Printing and Toby Weller.

Applications for the next round of grants are now open across the All Talent, Spirit of Trevithick and Creative Writing categories. Full details are at youngandtalentedcornwall.org.

📷The latest cohort of Young & Talented Cornwall grant recipients. Shown here with Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho and St Austell Brewery Marketing & Communications Director, Laura Plum. Image credit: Toby Weller