Kingston upon Thames Civic volunteer receives Ecclesiastical’s Heritage Hero Award

David Kennedy, a volunteer who has dedicated ten years of exceptional service to Coombe Conduit, an ancient waterworks in Kingston upon Thames, has been honoured with the Heritage Hero Award. Coombe Conduit, managed by The Kingston upon Thames Society on behalf of English Heritage, is one of three Tudor conduits that collected water from nearby springs and channelled it to Hampton Court Palace.
Through the Kingston Upon Thames Society, David has organised volunteers, educated visitors, and led and inspired many school and student parties. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he created an online tour to ensure the site remained accessible. The Heritage Heroes Awards, sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical and in their 13th year, recognise outstanding contributions to the heritage sector by volunteers.
The awards ceremony coincided with Heritage Day and featured keynote speakers, including the Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson, René Olivieri, Chair of the National Trust, and Peter Aiers OBE, Master and Chief Executive of The Charterhouse. Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical, congratulated David and expressed the company's pride in sponsoring the Heritage Heroes Awards.
In his acceptance speech, David Kennedy expressed deep gratitude for the award and acknowledged the support of his fellow volunteers. His commitment to Coombe Conduit and the heritage sector inspires us all. Visit their website to learn more about Coombe Conduit and the Kingston upon Thames Society.