Graduation 2016: Honorary Fellowship For Motorsport Fundraiser

An ex-serviceman who has dedicated his life to raising money for charity through motorsport urged hundreds of graduands to create their own legacy as he became an Honorary Fellow of Wrexham Glyndwr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jon Earp was honoured as the sixth and final Fellow of the institution for 2016 in a ceremony at the William Aston Hall on Friday October 28. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jon, who joined the British Army straight from school in 1989, has supported ex-servicemen and women through Mission Motorsport since leaving the armed forces in 2012. The charity uses motor sports to re-engage injured service personnel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He also supports Wrexham Glyndwr University through his TWP Racing team’s partnership with Glyndwr Racing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking as he collected his award, Jon said: “I stand here feeling a bit of a fraud. I never went to university and haven’t had to work as hard as you for this degree. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But the name of my racing team, Team Twp, is inspired by the Welsh word for stupid – which I was called at primary school when I was told I would never achieve anything in life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“My legacy to Wrexham Glyndwr University is through motorsport racing and as you graduate today, my one piece of advice would be to aim to create your own legacy. The very best of luck to you all in life.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jon joins five other distinguished individuals honoured by Wrexham Glyndwr University this year: Olympic athlete and broadcaster Colin Jackson, Chwarae Teg chief executive Joy Kent, designer Andrew Cheetham, former National Eisteddfod chair Dr Prydwen Elfed-Owens and Professor Graham Upton, former Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hundreds of graduates have been collecting their awards across six ceremonies in the William Aston Hall this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The week also marked a milestone for Professor Maria Hinfelaar, who led her first graduation ceremony as Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “Gaining a degree is one of the highest personal achievements and all of our graduates should be very proud of how far they have come to reach this point. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Education in the 21st century is more important than ever before. We need people with special knowledge who are innovative and thoughtful and I wish all of you the very best for the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​