Fashion Guru And BBC Chief Given Honorary Awards
Fashion guru Jeff Banks and Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales, were made honorary fellows today (Thursday, 7 July) by the University of South Wales.
Ebbw Vale-born designer Jeff and former print journalist Rhodri, originally from Cardiff, received the awards on the first day of graduation ceremonies, at St David’s Hall, where graduates from the Faculty of Creative Industries and the Faculty of Business and Society received their degrees.
Jeff, 73, co-created and went on to present BBC’s The Clothes Show from 1986 until 2000. After setting up his own business at the age of 13, he realised his passion for design after studying textiles at school.
He later opened a London fashion boutique, Clobber, before launching his own fashion label in 1969 and co-launching clothing chain Warehouse in the late 1970s.
He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2009 for services to fashion and charitable work.
On receiving his Honorary Doctorate, he said: “To embrace a university education is a rare and special opportunity through seats of learning that stretch back nearly a thousand years.
“It is a great honour to receive this Honorary Doctorate, and to see how the creative industries courses offered here at the University of South Wales are helping to set up today’s graduates for successful careers in their chosen sector.”
Broadcaster Rhodri began his career as a sub-editor at the Western Mail, joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1993.
In 1999, he was appointed Head of Regional and Local Programmes at BBC West in Bristol, taking charge of BBC television, online and local radio services across the region. He was appointed Director of BBC Cymru Wales in 2011.
On receiving his Honorary Fellowship, he said: ““Learning has always had a special place in my life. University gave me the confidence and ambition to stretch myself and see out new experiences and challenges.
“Today’s graduates should feel hugely proud of what they have achieved to arrive at this day. There are so many adventures ahead and the learning that goes with them will stand them in good stead as they make their own choices.”
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