THE former chairman of York Civic Trust, John Shannon, received a standing ovation when he entered the city's Merchant Adventurers' Hall for the first annual lecture held in his honour.

The inaugural John Shannon Conservation Lecture, given by distinguished architect Robert Adam, took place last night and was attended by more than 200 people.

Mr Shannon, who was a guardian of York's heritage for 38 years and received the Freedom of the City last year, said he was thrilled that the event was taking place.

He said: "I think it's wonderful that this should be happening. I've been closely involved with this hall and with the city's own buildings and guilds for most of my life and so it's very good to see so many people I've known for so long."

Mr Adam, who was introduced to the audience by York Civic Trust chairman Darrell Buttery, said his lecture, Authenticity And Tradition, aimed to warn people about the "tyranny of history and the way people use history in inappropriate ways to control the present".

Also during last night's event six craftsmen and conservators received bursary awards, funded by the Esme Fairburn Foundation, the Provincial Grand Charity of the Freemasons and English Heritage, to enable them to improve and expand their skills in the field.

Matthias Garn, a stone mason and carver at the Dick Reid workshops in York, received £1,250 to assist his participation in a business management course for master stonemasons in Germany.

Lee Godfrey, a York Minster carver, received £1,250 towards an Historic Buildings MA course at the University of York.

Tom Heys and Andrew Brind, blacksmiths with Don Barker Ltd of Wigginton, each received £450 to fund a course in the specialised skill of leafwork.

David Medley, a stone mason with William Anelay Ltd, of Osbaldwick, received £200 to attend a restoration carving course and Stephanie Erpenbeck, an MA student in conservation at Durham University specialising in maritime archaeology, received £1,000 for an open water diving course at Lochaline, Scotland.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, May 30, 2003