This Award was established by the Week of Prayer for World Peace (WPWP) to recognise significant contributions by individuals, organisations, or projects in furthering peace, justice, and reconciliation. The Award focuses on grassroots initiatives. It enables otherwise often untold stories to be told and honoured and seeks to inspire others. It is open to all, irrespective or nationality, ethnicity, or faith.

Named in honour of Revd. Gordon Wilson, and Revd. Sidney Hinkes, both former Chairs of the WPWP, the Award is made annually. The Award, valued at £500, is this year sponsored by the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and will be present on the second Sunday of each year at the start of WPWP.

Nominations in the form of a letter describing the nominee’s contribution to peace and justice issues should be sent by 31st July 2023 to:

Sue Gale: billandsuegale@blueyonder.co.uk and
Sue Claydon: chair@anglicanpeacemaker.org.uk

Here are three past winners of this award:

Issa Souf (2018)   Issa Souf is a Palestinian who hosted and helped coordinate joint Israeli and Palestinian non-violent protest activities. With others, he founded the International Solidarity Movement, an organisation that encourages non-violent activists to come to the West Bank and to be witnesses to the realities of the occupation.   In May 2001, Issa was shot by two Israeli soldiers. He survived but is now a paraplegic. On the third anniversary of being wounded he wrote an open letter to the soldiers who had wounded him.   Since his injury he has supervised summer camps for children under the banner of ‘Love for life’ where the children are instructed in the arts, contemplation techniques and non-violence. He writes articles for various websites and continues to maintain relations with activists of the international solidarity movement and with Israelis who believe in Palestinian rights to their land.   Issa’s Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award was made to recognise his continuing work, especially with children, and his uncompromising commitment to non-violence.   You can read more about Issa here:

Takako Baker (2015)   Takako Barker is Japanese woman who has lived in the UK for over 20 years.  Described  as ‘a lone, quiet worker for peace’, at school she says that she was taught that war is wrong and she has always believed this in herself.    Working with the organisation Hope in the Heart, which has collected many of the stories of the Hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombs), Takako brought a large exhibition from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to the UK and used it with the Hibakusha stories in various places, including the School of Oriental and African Studies.   This action led Takako to her next piece of work which has been as a lone figure standing outside the Japanese embassy for one whole day a week for many months, protesting plans to change Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which prevents Japan from maintaining or using any military force. ‘Stand with a banner and it makes people curious’ she said.   Takako used her Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award to further enhance the Hiroshima exhibition.    You can read more about Takako here:

Sr. Elizabeth O’Donohoe (2018) Sr. Elizabeth O’Donohoe is a member of the Catholic congregation of Sisters of the Holy Cross. After many years of teaching and serving as a university chaplain, she re-trained as a psychotherapist and that has been her work ever since.    She is a member of her parish justice and peace group and Pax Christi. On Remembrance Sunday each year Elizabeth invites Jewish and Muslim representatives to join the Catholic parish for a short interfaith service in the peace garden at St Mellitus. She takes part in public events such as the Ash Wednesday liturgy outside the Ministry of Defence. In the past two years Sr. Elizabeth has been working with other churches and faiths to welcome Syrian refugees being resettled in Islington.  Together with an Anglican woman priest she has started a Christian-Muslim women’s group for sharing belief and scriptures.   Sr. Elizabeth’s Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award recognised how an extremely modest, common-sense sort of person can accomplish much is supporting peacemaking at a local level.   You can read more about Sr Elizabeth here: