The Glover Trophy
Awarded to the most meritorious student pilot graduating from a college or school of civil or military aviation. Particular consideration will be given to the candidate’s progress during the course, including qualities of character, leadership, involvement in sport, recreation and voluntary service, in addition to flying and academic achievement.
(previously the Alan Cobham Prize/The Sir Alan Cobham Memorial Award)
2025 awarded to: Flight Lieutenant Matthew Roper BEng(Hons) RAF
Flight Lieutenant Matthew Roper has been the highest performing Hawk graduate on 11 Sqn Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) and is ranked as number one of twenty-eight trainees to have graduated the Joint QEAF/UK training squadron since it was established in 2021. Yet it is his enthusiasm for all elements of flying and Squadron ethos that truly make Flt Lt Roper stand out from his peers. He immediately demonstrated his strong work ethic and preparation during ground school, finishing top of his course. However just as significantly, as a trainee on a strategically important multi-national training squadron, Flt Lt Roper was intrinsic to the cohesiveness of only the second ever joint RAF-QEAF course.
Displaying a level of cultural astuteness remarkable for his level of experience, Flt Lt Roper was the cornerstone of arranging social events that were inclusive to his Qatari course mates whilst simultaneously promoting the esprit de corps of a fast jet squadron. This successful integration continued throughout the course, culminating in Flt Lt Roper leading two Qatari trainees throughout a successful 100-mile John Egging Trust cycle-ride. This performance on the ground was only exceeded by Flt Lt Roper’s performance in the air. His instructors noted early on his flair for aerobatics and the accuracy of his close-formation flying, continuously displaying an ability to perform at a level well in excess of the end of course standard. During a low-level land-away sortie to Yeovilton, Flt Lt Roper displayed a level of flexibility and decision making more akin to that of a seasoned operator. Despite challenging weather and limited fuel Flt Lt Roper was able to strike all his targets, and particularly impressing with his ability to replan accurately whilst flying at 250 feet and 420kts.
Throughout the most taxing element of the course, Tactics and Weapons, Flt Lt Roper continued to excel. His Air-to-Surface attacks were precise and effective, whilst his understanding and application of Beyond-Visual-Range concepts were rapidly assimilated. In Within-Visual-Range tactics, whether 1v1 or 2v1, Flt Lt Roper’s enthusiasm was infectious. Despite the demands of learning the most dynamic skillset of a fighter pilot, Flt Lt Roper continuously strove to increase his lethality by perfecting his handling and tactical execution.
Flt Lt Roper concluded his final-solo check on the Squadron by leading a 4-ship of aircraft into RAF Coningsby, a level of responsibility far beyond the scope of the course. For his performance throughout the course, combined with his outstanding attitude towards instruction, Flt Lt Roper was selected to be a crew member for the successful Hawk-Typhoon flypast for HM The King and Emir of Qatar at RMA Sandhurst in December 2024.
An outstanding talent with huge promise, Flt Lt Matthew Roper is thoroughly deserving of the award of the Glover Trophy.
Previous Winners:
... of the Sir Alan Cobham Prize
1966/67 Captain F H Hawkins
1968 - 1970 not awarded
1970/71 Captain M A Lewis
1971/72 Captain Hugh Dibley
... of the Sir Alan Cobham Memorial Award
1974/75 G S Vaizey
1975/76 J V Fanning
1976/77 Laith Al-Omar
1977/78 N C Lewton
1978/79 Pavlos Attalides
1979/80 Michael Joseph Sheen
1980/81 David Stanley Balman
1981/82 Paul Tomlinson
1982/83 Rudolf Van Berkel
1983/84 Robert Martinus Page
1984/85 Alan Robert Beurle
1985/86 Lee Boon Hup
1986/87 Chee Tuck Lai
1987/88 Gurmit Singh
1989 not awarded
1989/90 Stephen Riley
1990/91 E D Troy
1991/92 Michael G Edwards
1992/93 Wilson Wai Yin Tang
1993/94 Simon Galvin
1994/95 Candice Hinrichsen
1995/96 Martin Peter Goddard
1996/97 Mark R Bishton
1997/98 Stuart J Geddes
1998/99 Nicholas Talboys
1999/2000 Jacob Sorensen
2000/01 Mark Cameron
2001/02 Richard Driscoll
2002/03 Ilkka A Tahvanainen
2003/04 Donald Nwajei
2004/05 Jessica Mary Telford
2005/06 not awarded
2006/07 Stephen A Robinson
2007/08 Charles Waters
2008/09 Vincent Dusseau
2009/10 Kelly McQuaid
2010/11 Captain David Parker RCAF
2011/12 Glen Robert Harrison
2012/13 Myriam Gardeazabal
2013/14 Flt Lt Jonathan Hubbleday RAF
2014/15 Flt Lt Thomas Hansford RAF
... of the The Glover Trophy
2016 Flt Lt Jennifer A N Boyd BSc MSc RAF
2017 SAC Aaron A Garcha
2018 not awarded
2019 Lt Michael Plant RN
2020 not awarded
2021 Capt James Lowrey AAC
2022 Alexander El Khawaja
2023 Lieutenant Patrick Richardson RN
2024 Lieutenant Charlie Homer RN