Determination and a highly organised approach to academic work resulted in Jane Dowdell gaining not only an MA with Distinction but also the Professor R E D Bishop Memorial Prize for best student of the year. The award was presented to her by the Dean of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Dr David Arrell at a ceremony held at St Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight.

Jane, who is Manager of Primary Care and Childrens Services for the Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust, developed a strategy for the prevention of child abuse on the Island. She planned to support this project by taking units of study from the programme of Child Forensic Studies run jointly by the Universities of Portsmouth, Leeds and Liverpool. In addition to the project and the Master's courses, Jane extended her contacts and knowledge in the field of child protection by attending a number of seminars on related subjects in various locations round the country.