The English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge celebrates the very best in folk art. It is awarded to those who have made unique or outstanding contributions to the art or science of folk dance, music or song, and/or those who have given exceptional support in furthering the aims of the Society.
More than 150 awards have been made since the Gold Badge was first created in 1922. Many award holders are household names in the world of folk, and others are less well known but work tirelessly behind the scenes or in their local communities.
Nominate someone for the Gold Badge Award
Do you know an unsung hero of folk? Or has your hero not yet been recognised with a Gold Badge?
How do I nominate someone for an award?
Anyone can make a nomination, which should be seconded (supported) by one other person. Nominations can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or in writing to EFDSS company secretary, c/o Cecil Sharp House.
Nominations can be made at any time but are normally considered in the spring, with new awards announced in the autumn.
There is no form to complete but you should always try to provide the following information:
- Name, address and telephone number of the person being nominated
- Name, address, email and telephone number of the person making the nomination, and the seconder
- The reasons, along with appropriate evidence, why the person nominated should receive the award
When making a nomination, keep these points in mind:
- Don’t consult the person you want to nominate. It is important that neither they nor their family is aware that they might be a candidate for an award.
- Don’t canvass lots of people to write in to support the nomination. It is the quality of the evidence provided that is important, not the size of postbag.
- There is no need to write a formal statement (citation). But you may wish to suggest the name of a person who could write a citation if the award is made.
- Awards cannot be made posthumously, because the recipient has to agree to accept the award.
- Award holders will have made a difference and/or brought distinction to the world of folk.
How much information do I need to include in a nomination?
In some cases the name of the person may be all that is required, but more information must be given about those who are not so well known nationally. If you are in doubt as to how much the Awards Committee might already know about your candidate, please ask the company secretary.
As a basic guide, please:
- Make clear the areas or roles in which the nominee has worked
- Describe their contribution and how it has made an impact
- Note when and where they were involved
- Make a list of notable achievements and highlights
- Show how the nominee has excelled, and stands out from others doing similar things
- Tell the Awards Committee if others have recognised their contribution (in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, a media award, or an honorary degree, for example). The prior receipt of such an award will not prevent EFDSS awarding its Gold Badge
How are award holders selected?
The Board of the English Folk Dance and Song Society appoints a small awards committee, which confidentially discusses each nomination. The committee will normally meet in the spring. Awards will not necessarily be made every year.
How are successful nominees informed of the award?
Following endorsement by the Board, we’ll write to the nominee asking whether they wish to accept the award.
The announcement of the awards, once the recipients have have accepted, will be made in English Dance & Song magazine and elsewhere.
Where a nominee has not been selected, the nominator will receive a letter. Nominations will not be automatically reconsidered in future years, and a new nomination must be received. Details of unsuccessful nominees remain confidential.
Where is the award presented?
The Gold Badge will usually be presented at a public event. EFDSS will always consider the nominee’s wishes when choosing a suitable occasion.
Gold Badge Award holders
2020 | Paul and Liz Davenport |
Benny Graham | |
Mick Peat | |
Carolyn Robson | |
2019 | Chris Coe |
John Graham | |
Mike Norris | |
Kate Rusby | |
2018 | Frankie Armstrong |
John Bacon | |
Antony Heywood | |
Vic Legg | |
2017 | Johnny Adams |
Nicolas Broadbridge | |
Dave and Maggie Hunt | |
The Wilson Family | |
2016 | Maggie Fletcher |
Pete Coe and Sue Coe | |
Mike Wilson-Jones and Mary Wilson-Jones | |
2015 | Ian Anderson |
John Tams | |
Rollo Woods | |
Paul Wilson and Marilyn Tucker (Wren Music) | |
2014 | Maddy Prior, MBE |
Sandra Kerr | |
David Leverton | |
Alan Bearman | |
2013 | Ashley Hutchings |
Ricky Forster | |
David Blick | |
2012 | Bill Leader |
Graeme Miles | |
2011 | Johnny Handle |
Nic Jones | |
George Peterson | |
Les Seaman | |
Jackie Toaduff | |
Eddie Upton | |
2010 | Jim Coleman |
Vic Gammon | |
John Howson | |
Katie Howson | |
Taffy Thomas | |
2009 | Jack Brown |
Beryl Marriott | |
Roger Nicholls | |
Steve Roud | |
Derek Schofield | |
2008 | Ray Fisher |
John Heydon | |
Louis Killen | |
Colin Ross | |
2007 | Eliza Carthy |
Michael Heaney | |
Frank Purslow | |
Pat Wilkinson | |
The Yetties (Bonny Sartin, Pete Shutler and Mac McCulloch) | |
2005 | Alistair Anderson |
Tony Engle | |
Phil Heaton | |
Aubrey O’Brien | |
Doc Rowe | |
2004 | Steve Heap |
Peter Kennedy | |
Geoff Rye | |
Malcolm Taylor | |
2003 | Dave Arthur |
Shirley Collins | |
Iona Opie | |
Roy Palmer | |
2002 | Dr Christopher Cawte |
John Kirkpatrick | |
Dave Swarbrick | |
2001 | Roy Dommett |
Dr Denis Smith | |
Trevor Stone | |
1999 | Roy Judge |
Ron Smedley | |
1998 | Jill Copper |
John Copper | |
Jon Dudley | |
Marjorie Fennessy | |
Dr Ian Russell | |
1997 | Barbara Kinsman |
Ivy Romney | |
Cyril Swales | |
1996 | May Beeforth |
Elsie Cloughton | |
Tony Foxworthy | |
Francis Shergold | |
1995 | Ivor Allsop |
Liza Austin | |
Brenda Godrich | |
Cyril Jones | |
Fred Jordan | |
Harry Pitts | |
Rex Laycock | |
1990 | Tom Cook |
Pat Tracey | |
1989 | Peter Dashwood |
Jack Hamilton | |
1988 | Joe Brown |
Ursula Vaughan Williams | |
1987 | Reg Hall |
Ewan MacCoIl | |
Peggy Seeger | |
Michael Yates | |
1986 | Hugh Rippon |
1984 | Philip Bloy |
Leslie Hyner | |
1983 | Nibs Matthews |
Walter Pardon | |
The Spinners (Tony Davis, Mick Groves, Cliff Hall and Hugh Jones) | |
1982 | Sam Sherry |
The Watersons (Lal, Norma and Mike Waterson, John Harrison and Martin Carthy) | |
1981 | Dr Lionel Bacon |
Bob Cann | |
1980 | Dr Russell Wortley |
1979 | Bill Rutter |
1978 | Sybil Clark |
Bob Copper | |
Kathleen Mitchell | |
1977 | Stan Hugill |
Rev Kenneth Loveless | |
1976 | Kenneth Clark |
Johnson Ellwood | |
1975 | A L Lloyd |
1974 | William Ganiford |
1973 | Mollie Du Cane |
Dr Leonard C Luckwill | |
1970 | Dr W Fisher-Cassie |
Fred Hamer | |
1971 | Nan Fleming-Williams |
Patrick Shuldham-Shaw | |
1969 | Harry Cox |
Arthur Marshall | |
Edward Nicol | |
1965 | Douglas Kennedy |
Helen Kennedy | |
1964 | Lady Mary Trevelyan |
Dorothy Bessant | |
1963 | Everal de Jersey |
1962 | Alec Hunter |
1961 | Kathleen Adkins |
Miss L Chapin | |
Lily Conant | |
May Gadd | |
Margaret Grant | |
Sybil Lightfoot | |
Grace Meikle | |
Philip Merrill | |
Marjorie Penn | |
Evelyn Wells | |
Elsie Whiteman | |
1960 | Kenneth Constable |
Irene Fisher | |
Marjorie Heffer | |
Dr Kenworthy Schofield | |
George Osborne | |
1957 | Janet McCrindell |
1956 | P J Terry |
1954 | Violet Alford |
Elsie Avril | |
Marjory Sinclair | |
1950 | Richard Callender |
1948 | Frederick Keel |
R J Tabor | |
Rev E A White | |
1946 | Lady Ampthill |
Frank Howes | |
1945 | Miss H Cornock Keen |
1943 | Dr Ralph Vaughan Williams |
1940 | Miss C Holbrow |
1938 | Anne Gilchrist |
Miss E F Lawrence | |
1934 | W H Bonham Carter |
1930 | Winifred Shuldham-Shaw |
1929 | Mrs J J Storrow |
1928 | Maud Karpeles |
William Wells | |
1923 | Cecil Sharp |
William Kimber | |
1922 | Lady Mary Trefusis |
Mrs Dudley Hervey |