Bangor University to bestow Honorary Fellowships on stars of stage and screen

Well-known faces from the small screen are among those to be honoured by Bangor University this summer.

Eleven individuals will receive Honorary Fellowships during the University’s annual degree ceremonies in July.

The fellowships are the highest honour the university can bestow, and recognise achievements in a diverse range of fields from law, science, media, to conservation.

Llion Williams, perhaps best known for his portrayal of George Hughes in C’mon Midffild, recently became the first person to win both English and Welsh language performance prizes at the Wales Theatre Awards.

The Bangor-born actor was awarded the English language best male performance prize for his role in bilingual play Belonging/Perthyn and best Welsh language male actor for Chwalfa.

Llion, who is an associate of Theatr Clwyd with extensive theatre and television experience, will be honoured for his contribution to the theatre.

Also awarded a fellowship will be a former chairman of the university’s council, Lord Merfyn Davies CBE.

Lord Davies, of Abersoch, served in government as Minister for Trade, Small Business & Infrastructure in 2009-10, following a highly successful career in financial services. He’s being honoured for his services to business.

Meanwhile, a London-born Welshman is to receive an Honorary Fellowship for his services to the Welsh language.

Ifor ap Glyn, who now lives in Caernarfon, has won the National Eisteddfod Crown twice and is also a producer and broadcaster as well as being director of independent television company, Cwmni Da.

Dr Raj Jones, of Anglesey, is to be recognised for services to conservation and the community. Widow of the late Tom Parry Jones, who invented the breathalyser, she was a particle physicist who has lectured and published widely on the history and philosophy of science.

She also established the Tom & Raj Parry Jones Trust to support young entrepreneurs, as well as being the first chairman of the Red Squirrel Trust Wales and remains an active member of several conservation bodies.

A barrister who’s gone on to forge a media career, is also being recognised for his services to law.

Originally from Llangefni, Gwion Lewis is one of the brightest barristers of his generation. In addition to his work in Chambers and editing the ‘Wales’ section of the Planning Encyclopaedia, he speaks regularly about legal affairs on television and radio, receiving a BAFTA Wales award for ‘Best Breakthrough’ in 2013.

Another Anglesey man, Cen Williams, is to receive an Honorary Fellowship for his services to the Welsh language.

Dr Williams is internationally renowned for his work among experts in the field of bilingual education, having also published two volumes of poetry and won the Crown at the 1997 National Eisteddfod.

Holywell-born mathematician, Professor Gareth Ffowc Roberts, will be known to many for his taxing and tempting mathematical ‘tweets’ in the Welsh language.

A former head of the Coleg Normal and former pro Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Bangor University, he is to be honoured for his services to education.

Also to be honoured is a Ugandan who came to Britain as a refugee, Kailesh Karavadra, for his services to Business.

Nicolas Jackson OBE will, meanwhile, receive an Honorary Fellowship for his services to zoology, with 40 years of experience in zoology.

He is chief executive of the National Zoological Society of Wales, Welsh Mountain Zoo at Colwyn Bay.

Finally, Professor Constantin Grammenos CBE, a leading expert in international shipping and Finance who established the International Centre for Shipping Trade and Finance at City University’s Cass Business School, will also be honoured for his contributions to the financial industry.

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