The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has recognised four outstanding people with links to the red rose county.
Television judge Patrick Grant received an Honorary Fellowship today, Friday, while graphic designer Becky Chilcott, international strategic development specialist Professor John Fyfe CBE and archaeologist Dr Gill Hey all accepted prestigious Honorary Doctorates.
BBC One’s The Great British Sewing Bee judge, who runs Lancashire based Community Clothing and Cookson & Clegg, was recognised for the significant contribution he has made to the British clothing and textile industry, as well as supporting the University at events such as the Leaders in Residence Network Launch.
He said: “I feel very proud to have received this honorary fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire.
“The textile industry, which is my bread and butter, is incredibly important and has been historically to the county of Lancashire. It has a fantastic part to play in the future of this county, not only in creating economic activity and creating skilled jobs, but it also has an important role to play in changing the way we think about the world of fashion and textiles and trying to make it a system that works more harmoniously with nature.”
Giving advice to the thousands of graduating students, he added: “Follow your passion, don’t follow the money, do what feels great in your heart. Follow a career that you feel you can thrive in, that you have a real passion for because it’s going to be hard work but the more you love it the more fun you’ll get out of it.”
Becky Chilcott was honoured for the significant contribution she has made to graphic design and the support given to UCLan Publishing. After starting out at Random House Children’s Books, Becky is now the Design Manager for Macmillan Children’s Books. In addition, she runs her own freelance design company and has designed for books by Jacqueline Wilson and Philip Pullman plus text designed for the Harry Potter series. She has also taught at UCLan for five years and continues to mentor publishing students.
Dr Hey was recognised for the significant contribution she has made in services to archaeology and support in providing placements for the University’s archaeology students. She spent a decade managing fieldwork projects in Peru before heading back to spend 30 years working at Oxford Archaeology. While there, she directed many large fieldwork projects and became Chief Executive Officer for eight years before retiring. She has been integral in helping UCLan archaeology students secure work placements.
Professor Fyfe was recognised for the long-term contribution he has made to the UCLan’s Applied Policy Science Unit and to the Samuel Lindow Foundation, particularly through the provision of expertise and extensive practical experience in the fields of politics, policy and government. He was also honoured for his contribution to the development of ‘partnerships’ in community development, internationally, of which the association with UCLan and its presence at Westlakes Science Park in Cumbria is a special example.
The University’s degree and award celebrations ran from 11 to 15 July on the Preston Campus and saw thousands of students don their academic caps and gowns across 14 graduation ceremonies held in the transformed Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre.
Peter Purves, former Doctor Who companion, Blue Peter presenter and Crufts’ commentator, was set to receive an Honorary Fellowship during the week but was unable to attend his ceremony.
