Leamington Man Gives Medal to Top Warwick Medical Student

Leamington man Ted Pridgeon, is to give the University of Warwick a gift that will allow the University to give an annual medal to the Warwick Medical School Undergraduate who produces the best research project.

Professor Yvonne Carter, the Dean of Warwick Medical School, said:

"We are delighted with this gift of an annual gold medal, but if anyone really deserves a medal it is Ted and Myrtle Pridgeon themselves. Between them they have already donated over 1.25 million towards biomedical and medical research at the University of Warwick. Their generosity will help produce real advances in biomedicine that could make a difference to countless people"

Ted Pridgeon was born near Louth in Lincolnshire and now resides in Warwickshire. He became a successful cattle breeder and also represented his country at international rifle shooting competitions. Myrtle Pridgeon was born in Cambridgeshire, qualified in Medicine at Edinburgh and prior to her retirement she was as Specialist in Community Health for South Warwickshire.

Ted Pridgeon is particularly interested in supporting research which will contribute to a better understanding of the brain and will hopefully lead to improvements in the quality of life of people suffering from serious, but not necessarily terminal, medical problems and his donations to The university to date have included funds allowing the University to appoint a Professor of Neuroscience in its Department of Biological Sciences. Myrtle has also donated funds to provide support for a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Photo opportunity: There will be an opportunity to photograph Ted and Myrtle Pridgeon with a model of the medal at Scarman House on the University of Warwick Campus at 12.15 on Monday 5th of November

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager, Communications Office,
University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
024 76 523708 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

PR86 PJD 2nd November 2007