RCPS Medals on the move!

Ahead of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (RCPS) Medal Awards in February, The Poly team has been reaching out to community groups across Falmouth who might struggle to physically access the arts and culture venue. The project has been themed around the recently relaunched Medal Awards which date back to the 1830s and recognise excellence in the arts, sciences and industry in Cornwall. 

The Poly’s first stop has been the Age UK day centre, where they've been asking participants; “If you were to win a medal what would it be for?” “What is a medal?” and “Who else might deserve medals in Falmouth?” This has been done through quizzes, handling medals, having a go at carving, and making clay medals from precious and natural objects. These will be glazed with a lovely bronze glaze and fired at The Poly Pottery and turned into a medal mobile for the day centre. 

The Poly team has got to know some interesting folk at Age UK, hearing people’s stories about people who have made Falmouth, Cornwall, and the UK what it is today. 

The Poly’s Community Engagement Coordinator Lauren Campbell says: “We've met so many people from the community – from chip shop owners, jewellers, security guards, ladies-in-waiting, schoolteachers and granite workers to refuge collectors, farmers and telephonists. 

“From one of the oldest participants, we've heard that the secret to ageing well is 'a lot of hard work'. We've also learned that you can win medals for wife carrying, cheese rolling and worm charming and air guitaring! We also discovered that carving a mould for a medal takes a lot of skill and patience yet can be strangely relaxing. We'll be back out in the community in the run up to the awards, so look out for us!” 

Find out more about the RCPS Medal Awards here. A limited amount of tickets are also available to attend the Medal Awards ceremony at The Falmouth Hotel on Thursday 5th February 2026. 

ENDS: 10th December 2025