The Three Counties Cider & Perry Association begins 2026 with its Jean Nowell Bursary initiative.

In 2020 the TCCPA launched their Jean Nowell Bursary, in honour of the legacy of the late Jean Nowell and the committee are delighted to be offering the bursary again in 2026.

The purpose of the Jean Nowell Bursary is to provide opportunities for people to be able to access a small amount of funding to support their progress, education and development. The individual bursaries are each worth up to £250 and up to 4 bursaries are available each year.

A pioneering craft cider maker and artist, Jean Nowell (1930 – 2017), generously taught others and influenced a generation. Jean’s cider making adventures began when she retired to Lyne Down Farm, Herefordshire, in 1984, and restored old equipment found there. Jean used traditional apple and pear varieties discovered in her orchards, saying ‘1500 gallons is worth making an effort to improve the quality and preserve the tradition of farmhouse cider…if small makers’ cider is decent it …keeps the big firms interested in promoting quality ciders.’

Jean set up the Putley Big Apple cider trials for makers and was a key member of the now Three Counties Cider and Perry Association. Her son Max said, ‘she never stopped working for the good of the craft cider world as a whole’. Many respected makers today were mentored by her and it is in this spirit of support that the TCCPA have set up a bursary in her honour.

“The Three Counties Cider & Perry Association is first and foremost, an association of

cidermakers who come together to support and encourage each other and share knowledge and ambition that strengthens us as individuals and a collective. The Jean Nowell Bursary is a valued and significant part of our operations that supports the growth of independent craft cidermaking” said Albert Johnson, Chair of the Association 2024-2025.

““We have all faced times when we knew that an extra sum of money would help us attend that course, buy that bit of kit or get some advice. Jean Nowell’s bursary continues what Jean did in life. Help her fellow cider and perry makers. Thank you Jean.” said TCCPA committee member Tom Oliver.

2026 Bursary Entry Deadlines Announced

The deadline date for Jean Nowell Bursary applications have been announced as the 1st March 2026 and successful applicants will be announced at this year's CraftCon held from the 12th to the 13th March at the Somerset Country Cricket Club, Taunton.

Applications are not limited by age or experience, although preference will be given to novice commercial cider makers and projects where the bursary is being used to fund the applicant's personal or business development. This could be through education, a study visit, to help fund a harvest placement, to just name a few examples.

Applicants can apply for more than one bursary if their project requires it, and may receive all, some or none of the funding based off the merit of their application. The applications are judged by a subcommittee of the elected committee of the association.

'[In the 2020 entries] It was encouraging to see ideas which would really help people move on in their professional knowledge and understanding," says Elizabeth Pimblett, awards judge and director of the Museum of Cider. "We'd like to encourage future applicants to start thinking now how this seed funding could help them to develop in diverse ways."

Previous recipients of the Jean Nowell Bursary include Phil Kester of 99PINES, Stoneleigh

Community Orchard Group CIC, Hiranthi Cook of Cidentro Cider House, Three Wells Cider Company, Ben Fleet of Slow Cultures, Emma Jordan of Blue Barrel Cider, James Finch of Chapel Sider aka The Cider Critic, and Rob Muir of The Temperance Cider Project.

The value and achievement of the bursary in supporting craft cidermaking and orcharding is evident. A 2025 Jean Nowell Bursary recipient, Phil Kester of 99PINES Perry in Gloucestershire says: “The bursary has made a huge difference to 99PINES and our work at the National Perry Centre at Hartpury. It has enabled us both to significantly improve our event sales and bulk storage capacity. With the bursary amount we purchased a new shelf cooler system, which can be both used at the Orchard Centre bar, as well as external events. We were chuffed to be able

to use it at the Malvern Autumn show last year!”

“We also purchased some 500L storage systems that enabled us to easily and safely store and draw-off bulk products (rather than juggle multiple containers!). Last harvest we had some amazing volunteer help from local companies after our registration as a Community Interest Company, resulting in over 3000 litres and 34 single perry varieties. The equipment purchased through the bursary will help us store and present perry as best we can, and we are extremely grateful!”

“The bursary helped me make the jump from helping out and working at various cider makers to making my own cider. Knowing someone backed my idea gave me that boost to help me start up this year. The money was really important too and helped me in my equipment purchases.” said 2025 Jean Nowell bursary recipient Ben Fleet.

“The Jean Nowell Bursary was most gratefully received and is enabling me to expand my skills into distilling cider. Since receiving the bursary I’ve done much reading up on distillation techniques and have spent the money on enrolling in the Level 1 Spirits Award Qualification course at the WSET school which is taking place in London this March. I’m really looking forward to this new learning opportunity and have done all the pre reading they have sent through for it. The course covers the basic principles of spirit production, teaches the main types and styles of spirit and factors affecting the flavour of spirits. After the course I’ll be experimenting with my own cider distillation using my pot still and can provide another update on how I’ve put my new skills to use then.” said 2025 Jean Nowell bursary recipient Hiranthi Cook.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1 Applications are welcome from across the UK. Please view the relevant page on our website here for application forms and guidelines.

2. Head to TCCPA website to read more about Jean Nowell, including her son, Max's inspiring tribute,.tccpa.co.uk

3. For further information, images or interview requests, please contact Rachel Hendry,

rachel@burumcollective.com