The English College offers its warm congratulations to one of its Founder Governors, Dr Barbara Day MBE. It was announced in the Czech Senát recently that Dr Day is one of eight people honoured by the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes – Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů.
ÚSTR has honoured Dr Day for ‘her extraordinary contribution to the reflection of modern history’. Also similarly recognised was the dissident Tomáš Vrba. He is the editor-in-chief of the cultural reviews Lettre internationale and Přítomnost. Sabina and Jan Kratochvil received the award as well. In 2007, they founded the Museum of Czech, Slovak and Ruthenian Exiles of the 20th Century in Brno.
The Institute is a Czech government agency and research institute. Founded in 2007, its purpose is to gather, analyse and make accessible documents from the Nazi and Communist totalitarian regimes. It is a founder member of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.
Dr Day said, “I’ve always admired the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and the work they do, and am honoured to receive this award. I feel that the award is not only for me but for all those involved in the underground seminars passing on their knowledge to the next generation.”
A Founder Governor of the English College since 1994, Dr Day serves on the Education Committee. She is also Chairman of the School Council. She received the Commemorative Medal of President Václav Havel in 1998 and an MBE in 2002. You can read her full profile on the ECP website.