The University has received a legacy from the estate of the late Antony Copley, a member of the School of History.

Anthony passed away in July 2016 and his legacy will support the Copley Prize, which was founded during his lifetime and provided an annual prize to reward the best final year history dissertation.

Antony saw active service during the Suez Crisis, then studied at Oxford and taught at Bangor before joining the University of Kent in 1967. He specialised in 19th century French and Indian history and retired in 2002 as a Reader. In 2008, Anthony joined the newly-formed Former Staff Association and served as a member of its Liaison Group for a number of years.

Following his retirement, Antony continued to be an active supporter of the School of History, attending events and continuing to research and to write books, including Music and the Spiritual: Composers and Politics in the 20th Century (2012). He also enjoyed judging the entries to the Copley Prize and presenting the prize itself. In 2014, in recognition of his publications, his steadfast support for the School and his contribution to its intellectual life, Antony was granted an honorary professorship.

Antony’s legacy will ensure that the Copley Prize continues and that future generations of students are rewarded for their achievements.

Alison Coles, Director of Development said: ‘We are hugely thankful for Antony’s decision to remember the University in his will. The Copley Prize will commemorate his life and continue his commitment to students in the School of History.’

To learn more about leaving a legacy to the University, see www.kent.ac.uk/legacies.