Jaroslav Peprník, a distinguished Czech scholar of English and American studies, co-founder of the Department of English at Palacký University and a long-serving lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), a prestigious British state honour conferred by King Charles III. He received the award in recognition of his lifelong work and exceptional contribution to the development of Czech-British relations.
The award was presented to Jaroslav Peprník in the Rector’s office at Palacký University by Matthew Field, the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic. This ceremonial occasion marked an extraordinary recognition of the professor’s lifelong work; he has been associated with the University of Olomouc for more than seventy years.
“A medal awarded by the British monarch is the highest honour an English scholar can achieve. I value it immensely, but I also accept it as a tribute to the thousands of teachers who have been promoting British language and culture here for over a hundred years, and whose only reward have been the grateful memories of their students,” said Jaroslav Peprník.
The British Empire Medal is one of the most prestigious British state honours and is awarded to foreign nationals only in exceptional circumstances. According to available data, twenty-five people from around the world received it last year. Among the Czech recipients, Augustin Švub, a Czechoslovak soldier who fought at Tobruk during the Second World War, is also often mentioned.
“Professor Peprník received an award from His Majesty King Charles III in recognition of his lifetime achievements. He helped educate several generations of English language teachers and made an outstanding contribution to English language teaching and Czech-British relations. He not only shared British culture and values with his students, but also embodied them himself during the difficult years of communist rule. Through his lifelong work, he brought Britain closer to generations of Czechs and helped strengthen the ties between our two countries,” said Ambassador Matthew Field.
The award was presented to Jaroslav Peprník in the Rector’s office at Palacký University by Matthew Field, the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic. This ceremonial occasion marked an extraordinary recognition of the professor’s lifelong work; he has been associated with the University of Olomouc for more than seventy years.
“A medal awarded by the British monarch is the highest honour an English scholar can achieve. I value it immensely, but I also accept it as a tribute to the thousands of teachers who have been promoting British language and culture here for over a hundred years, and whose only reward have been the grateful memories of their students,” said Jaroslav Peprník.
The British Empire Medal is one of the most prestigious British state honours and is awarded to foreign nationals only in exceptional circumstances. According to available data, twenty-five people from around the world received it last year. Among the Czech recipients, Augustin Švub, a Czechoslovak soldier who fought at Tobruk during the Second World War, is also often mentioned.
“Professor Peprník received this honour from His Majesty King Charles III in recognition of his life’s work. He helped educate several generations of English language students and made an exceptional contribution to the development of English language teaching and Czech-British relations. He not only passed on British culture and values to his students, but also embodied them himself during the difficult times of communist oppression. Through his life’s work, he has brought Britain closer to generations of Czechs and thus contributed to strengthening the ties between our countries,” said Ambassador Matthew Field.
Jaroslav Peprník has been working at the Faculty of Arts, Palacký University, since 1954. However, his connection with Britain began to take shape even earlier. In 1948, he attended a summer school in London and travelled around Great Britain. Those experiences shaped his lifelong interest in the English language, literature and the history of Czech-British relations.
In his academic work, he focuses primarily on teaching, writing textbooks and mapping the historical links between the Czech lands and the English-speaking world. He has also made a significant contribution to the development of Czech lexicology. For decades, his textbooks and academic publications have been among the core resources for teaching English at secondary schools and universities, and have influenced entire generations of students and teachers.
The British Empire Medal adds to the list of honours that Professor Peprník has received during his extraordinary career. In 2003, he received the City of Olomouc Award, and in 2023, the First Class Medal from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Last year, Palacký University also awarded him the František Palacký Prize for his lifetime contribution.