TWO days of graduation ceremonies took place this week for University of West London students at Twickenham Stadium.  

At six ceremonies, hundreds of UWL graduates were awarded their degrees, watched by proud families and friends.

Six honorary degrees were also awarded, recognising inspirational people from the worlds of business, marketing, nursing, charity, music and culinary arts. 

UWL alumnus Matt Dunkley, who received an honorary doctorate in music, is an orchestrator, arranger and conductor, who has worked on more than 200 films, including Barbie.

Matt studied trumpet and piano at the London College of Music and has been part of film composition workshops with LCM students. 

Also recognised was Michel Escoffier, grandson of the famous culinary star and President of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation.

Transport logistics expert Carl Lomas, himself a UWL graduate, has been instrumental in improving safety standards and qualifications for people working in the delivery industries.

Communications and marketing specialist Russ Lidstone has acted as an industry adviser for UWL’s BA (Hons) Advertising and Public Relations course since its inception.

Maria O’Brien, who received an Honorary Master of Science, is Chief Nurse at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.  

Mark Brooks, chair of the ManKind Initiative, the first UK charity to support male victims of domestic abuse, was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Professor Peter John, Vice-Chancellor, announced UWL will be opening a School of Medicine in February, while a new digital futures lab, to explore the use of AI, is also being created.