Fellowship - University of Worcester

On November 5th 2019 I had the privilege of attending Worcester Cathedral for the University’s graduation ceremony. It was the first time I’d stepped in that building since I graduated from my Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2011. That had been my second graduation in that building, I had graduated in 2010 following the completion of my degree. I was back, in a building that I know quite well, and I was graduating again, but this time was different. In July, I found out that the University of Worcester had chosen to honour me by awarding me a fellowship and inviting me to join their College of Fellows; in November the time had come to graduate.

Unlike previous graduations, I was not sitting in the packed rows, watching proceedings and waiting for my name to be called… no! I was on the stage, without a trim, looking shook. I had the extra posh graduation hat on (that’s a technical term) and the fancy robes. It felt weird, I felt like a bit of a fake, but as I listened to my old lecturer (aka hero in my life) Lerverne Barber read the commendation I thought ‘yeah… this is me, I’ve done these things’. Lerverne spoke about my late friend PV, and the shame that my mother couldn’t be with us to see this day. I stood and read a poem ‘Midlander’ for the 2000 people in the cathedral, I thought about PV never making it to this cathedral and about my mom not being here to see this, I remembered I carry a huge responsibility on my shoulders, but I embrace that.

The Worcester News covered the award of my fellowship as part of their graduation special, and said the following (amongst other things):

His work across these many spheres is unified by his deep commitment to reducing inequality, and his drive to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to discover their own rich potential.