Five famous faces were among the 11 key figures from across the arts, sciences, sport and community work who received honorary awards at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s Summer 2024 Graduation ceremonies.
Alongside the Brunel undergraduates and postgraduates glowing after getting their degree certificates, the household names were presented with their honorary doctorates or fellowships by the Brunel Pro-Chancellors, and were invited to say a few words to all those assembled in the university’s Indoor Athletics Centre.
Cathy Tyson: Honorary Doctor of Humanities
The celebrated actor graduated from Brunel for the second time with an honorary doctorate in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the arts.
Well known for playing Carol Johnson in ITV’s Band of Gold, Cathy’s career highlights include her teenage turn in the Royal Shakespeare Company, a Golden Globes nomination for her role in the 1986 film Mona Lisa, and a BAFTA-winning performance in the 2022 television film Help.
Cathy paused her stellar acting career to study, as a mature student, for a BA in English and Drama at Brunel. After graduating in 2013, she was inspired to found a theatre company, Pitchlake Productions, and more recently a production company, Brown Girl Films.
Accepting her honorary doctorate, Cathy said to the assembled graduates: “I was a mature student who came to university at a time when I felt jaded. But there was a small pilot light of hope in my interest in literature. Reading Shakespeare at 16 had ignited that flame, and thankfully, although it had dimmed, it hadn’t gone out.
“People wondered why I was studying drama. I told them that there will always be something to learn about drama. You never stop learning.”
Cathy recalled that during her time as a Brunel undergraduate she enjoyed learning about practitioners such as Peter Brook and Antonin Artaud, and the American Theatre. And she remembered her tutors fondly. “They shared their knowledge with passion and enthusiasm, and made me want to be first in the class and last out,” she said.
Cathy shared that the biggest thing she learned from university is that there are many different perspectives to learn from: “My experience of Brunel had taught me to be more inquiring, and not just take what was said to me. I had always been analytical as an actress, but I think most of my questioning went into my work; it didn’t happen as much in my everyday life.”
She dedicated her award to her mother, who passed away in 2009. “It is her example of loving the arts that has fuelled my own,” Cathy said. “And if I have been giving services to the arts, it has been absolute honour – and still continues to be. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Jax Jones: Honorary Doctor of Business
One of the biggest names in dance music, Jax received an honorary doctorate from Brunel in recognition of his distinguished contribution to music.
The prolific artist is famed for hits including the collaborative number ones I Got U, You Don’t Know Me and Breathe.
Jax Jones is the professional name of Timucin Aluo, who originally graduated from Brunel in 2008 with a degree in Finance and Accounting. The South Londoner credits music for raising him by giving him a cultural and entrepreneurial outlook: ‘being on your Jack Jones’, standing on your own two feet and taking control of your life, led to his stage persona.
Now a multi-platinum artist with more than 60 million record sales to his name, plus his own record label WUGD, his warmth and energy were to the fore when he spoke to all at the ceremony.
“I used to make music in my little room in Galbraith down there,” Jax said, pointing in the direction of the halls of residence. “I bought a little £50 Mac computer, and I had a little music program called Logic. And while all my friends were partying, I skipped a few lectures and I just worked and made tracks. Sorry, mum!
“There’s an entrepreneurial spirit to this university, which I think is unique. We were problem-solvers.”
He recalled how Jax Jones was started when he was 25, had no money and began making house music – different to the genres he grew up with. “But it was the same process, right? Immerse yourself in it and apply the skills that you’ve got. And it was crazy enough that it might just work.
“This was my last roll of the dice. And the song I made was I Got U, with Duke Dumont,” he said, with that track scooping Grammy and Brit Awards. “And from there, everything changed.”
Sharing advice with the graduates who are just saying goodbye to Brunel, Jax said: “Whatever path you choose is going to be difficult if you want to push for something. There may be people that don’t believe in you. You may not even believe in yourself. But keep going. No excuses. Figure out a way.
“Although I didn’t get into the financial sector, I’m grateful that my time here at Brunel gave me a commitment to a lifetime of learning. I can genuinely build my businesses with a methodical approach. So thank you for this honour, Brunel.”
Jax revelled in the fact that his honorary doctorate will be in his hallway, and that he’s going to make his kids call him ‘Dr Dad’.
Laurence Rickard: Honorary Doctor of Humanities
The acclaimed writer and star of TV favourites Horrible Histories and Ghosts was awarded an honorary doctorate from Brunel in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the arts and to education.
Larry and his Horrible Histories co-stars made history fun and relevant for children and their parents, and bagged more than 20 major awards for the historical and musical sketchy comedy. And in the beloved BBC One sitcom Ghosts, Larry played Robin, the caveman who can manipulate electricity, plus the head of the Tudor nobleman Sir Humphrey Bone, in scripts co-written with his Histories pals.
It was a return to Brunel for Larry, who first graduated from the university in 1999 with a BA in Drama and Film and Television Studies, before working in those industries as a writer, actor and executive producer.
Larry jested to the assembled graduates. “By 1% I missed out on a first, and I thought it would take an awful lot for me to go back over the threshold of that institution,” he said, and then, jabbing the air with his honorary doctorate, added: “Touché, Brunel!”
He spoke of his three happy years at Brunel, and two further years working for the university as a part-time tutor. “Having had all of those connections with this place, I am honoured to accept this honorary… honour. I did Film, not English,” he reasoned.
“My first career steps into my chosen field – being silly – were inspired by my time at Brunel directly, were inspired by what I learned, by the people who taught it to me. And the first steps I made on television were taken with friends and colleagues who I still work with, that I met at Brunel.”
Larry thanked the graduates for ‘coming to his party’, adding: “The very best of luck to you, in what I’m sure will be bright futures filled with very great successes with terrific people. And, if I might suggest: just a tiny amount of being silly. It really does go a very long way.
“You should never, ever take advice from someone who dresses as a caveman for a living. But I will just say this: buy a mug,” he said, holding aloft the one he bought at his first graduation 25 years ago. “One, they are incredible quality. But also, it’s something in which to toast all that you will achieve.”
Kwame Kwei-Armah: Honorary Doctor of Humanities
The actor, writer and director, and Artistic Director of the Young Vic, received an honorary doctorate from Brunel in recognition of his distinguished contribution to drama.
Kwame’s achievements are inspirational to those growing up locally to Brunel, as he did – born in Hillingdon and raised in Southall – and to those with fond memories of his portrayal of paramedic Finlay Newton in BBC One’s Casualty.
He was the first black Briton to have a play produced in London’s commercial West End, and has an extensive CV of writing and directing credits from New York to Senegal, and from his One Love: The Bob Marley Musical to Shakespeare.
After he was presented with his doctorate, Kwame addressed the graduates in the Indoor Athletics Centre.
“You are graduating at a time where there is great instability in the world,” he said. “You have worked really hard. And now you go out into a world that needs you.
“You are the generation that will make it different. I have to believe that, and I know that, in your hearts, you have to look at yourselves and say ‘I am the difference in the world’. Because otherwise I don’t know how we live. I don’t know how we go on.”
Commenting that the students bidding farewell to Brunel are his people, Kwame said: “You are people of the arts; you are people of law. You are the people who reflect society back to itself. Without you we do not move forward an inch. So I want to congratulate you and I want to thank you for creating the world that my children and grandchildren will benefit from.”
Eniola Aluko: Honorary Fellow
The footballer, lawyer, media personality, philanthropist and Brunel alumna was awarded an honorary fellowship in recognition of her distinguished contribution to football, and her outstanding contribution to both Brunel and the national community.
Eni started her Bachelor of Laws at Brunel in 2005, a year after she first played for England as a professional footballer, and two years after she was named Young Player of the Year by the Football Association.
She graduated with a first in 2008, before qualifying as a solicitor and working for an international law firm alongside a glittering career on the pitch. By the time she hung up her boots in 2019, she had made 102 appearances and scored 34 goals for England; had won the FA Cup with three English clubs; and, playing for Juventus, had won Italy’s Copa Italia and their Serie A league.
Eni became the first female pundit on Match of the Day, and has been on our TV screens regularly ever since – most recently commentating for ITV during this summer’s Euros.
“It’s very surreal to be back here at Brunel,” Eni said during the ceremony. “The halls that I started in, Bishop, is right behind this centre.
“I just feel so honoured and proud to be here, collecting this honorary fellowship. Brunel was really what shaped me and was a launchpad for me. I never thought I would go on to represent England the amount of times I did, to get an MBE, and to qualify as a lawyer. I never thought I would, but I did.
“This institution was a big part of that. I really found myself here, and that sense of completion on Graduation Day – I see it in all of your faces – that’s what I experienced, too.”
Eni encouraged and urged the graduates to keep believing in themselves: “Take all the success and the failures and the experiences that you’ve achieved at Brunel, and go and change the world. Achieve what many might not think you could achieve. But as long as you believe it, you will achieve it.”
Worthy awardees
Honorary awards were also presented to:
- Carole McCarthy – Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her distinguished contribution to physiotherapy, and her significant contribution to Brunel’s development
- Rachel Williamson – Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her distinguished contribution to sport, and of her outstanding service to the national community
- Jeffrey Liddiatt – Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding service to the Nuclear Test Veteran community, and his close working relationship with Brunel
- Francis French – Honorary Doctorate of Education in recognition of his distinguished contribution to STEM and to education as a whole
- John Aston – Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his exceptional service and contribution to Brunel
- Dr John Kirkland – Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his distinguished contribution to international development, his significant contribution to Brunel’s development, and his outstanding service to both Brunel and the international community.
Reported by:
Joe Buchanunn,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268821
joe.buchanunn@brunel.ac.uk