CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A STUDENT who plans to restore books for a living has won a £9,000 scholarship to achieve his ambition.

Edward Cheese, 25, of Grittleton, near Chippenham, has won the award from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust to study for a post-graduate diploma in conserving and restoring books at West Dean College, Chichester.

Mr Cheese graduated from Durham University with a first class honours in English, the best mark in his year, before starting his studies into book conservation.

He said: "I have always liked doing things with my hands. I saw somebody doing bookbinding years and years ago and thought that was the job for me. You get a great lot of pleasure from seeing them repaired and able to be used again."

He will be presented with his award by the Duke of Gloucester in London on Tuesday. QEST, the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, aims to advance education in modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK. It was set up in 1990 to mark the 90th birthday of the Queen Mother.