We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2025 Social History Society Pamela Cox Public History Prize.

The Pamela Cox Public History Prize recognises activities that enhance public understanding of social and cultural history. It was established as a mark of gratitude to our outgoing chair Professor Pamela Cox, who was tireless in efforts to open dialogue with different audiences while chairing the Social History Society.

The prize is awarded to a postgraduate student or an early career researcher who can demonstrate excellence in taking their research beyond the academy.

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s prize has been awarded to Sam Goldstone-Brady (National Paralympic Heritage Trust) for ‘The Story of the Games’, an exhibition about the Paralympics held in central London from July-November 2024.

This exhibition explored the history of the Paralympics, and included a range of images, objects, athlete testimonies, and links to digital content – such as the recently launched Global Virtual Museum.

The judges determined that they were:

Impressed by the clear social purpose and evidence of wide audience engagement, and really pleased to hear that the project had led to long-lasting, practical changes in the form of increased accessibility in the venue.

On receiving the prize, Sam Goldstone-Brady expressed that:

I’m delighted to have received the Public History award from the Social History Society. The Story of the Games exhibition was my first public exhibition following my PhD, and it was a fantastic way to share the history of the Paralympic Movement with wider audiences. Thank you to the committee!

The prize was announced at the Social History Society Conference, and the winner received one year’s free membership of the SHS, a showcase on our Community Exchange and a £300 cash prize.