Class of 2018: Jake Millar

All this week we are celebrating the achievements of some of our students who are graduating in the class of 2018.

Jake Millar’s (MA History) award-winning dissertation on Harwich’s connection to the Mayflower – the ship which famously transported pilgrims to America 400 years ago - will help shape the content for a new exhibition which is scheduled to open in Harwich in 2020.

When Tendring District Council put out a plea for information on the history of the Mayflower, Jake jumped at the chance to learn more about the history of his home county and the town of Harwich.

“The people of Harwich are very passionate about their history, so I felt a responsibility to get everything right. What we write could potentially have a big impact on the town,” said Jake.

His dissertation analysed how religious change affected the lives of Harwich residents, explaining how some local individuals became engulfed in the story of the Mayflower. Jake was awarded the John S Appleby Prize for the best MA dissertation on an Essex history theme and since completing his studies he has spoken on BBC Radio Essex about his work, given a number of public speeches in Harwich, and is currently editing his research for publication.