Honorary Awards

Kylie Grimes MBE

An athlete, show jumper and aspiring Olympian throughout her life, Kylie continues to train with the University’s Strength and Conditioning team.

Only three years after a life-changing spinal injury in 2006, she returned to competitive sport by cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia and raising money for Regain, a charity supporting newly injured tetraplegics back into sport.

Kylie was the only female member of the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Team who won the country’s first Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, held in 2021. She received an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby in 2022.

Kylie is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in recognition of her international sporting achievements, and her generosity of spirit in supporting future generations forge a career in sport.

Nick Gazzard

Born in Bristol, Nick studied at St Paul’s College, a predecessor of University of Gloucestershire, and during this time played for Cheltenham Town Football Club.

Following the murder of his daughter, Hollie, in 2014, Nick set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust to try and prevent similar tragedies, by increasing awareness of the devastating impact of domestic abuse and stalking. He advises a wide range of statutory agencies, and speaks at schools, universities and conferences around the UK.

Nick is receiving an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his extensive charity work to keep people safe, and for the contribution and support he has shown to our Criminology, Paramedic and Professional Policing courses, and to our staff researching domestic homicide.

Karen Carney MBE

Karen is a pioneering former international footballer – winning 144 caps for England – and is now a high-profile sports journalist, widely applauded for her work in supporting the mental health agenda, raising awareness of the impact of online abuse, and as a strong advocate of gender equality.

A graduate of our University – which is an FA Women’s High Performance Football Centre – today Karen is one of the UK’s most respected pundits. She is lead commentator for FA Women’s Super League for Sky Sports, and a columnist for the Guardian, BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC TV.

Karen was presented with an MBE in 2017 for services to football, and is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from our University in recognition of her career in international football and sports journalism.

Dr Phil Cowburn MBE

A consultant in Emergency Medicine at Bristol Royal Infirmary and North Bristol NHS Trust – the regional Major Trauma Centre – Phil is one of the founding members of Great Western Air Ambulance.

He continues to deliver critical care in their helicopter and response car, and is currently the Acute Care Medical Director for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. He also provides advice to regional police specialist units, and is the civilian ambassador advisor to the UK military pre-hospital care board.

In 2021, Phil received an MBE for his outstanding services to pre-hospital emergency care. He is receiving an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his significant career in the field of emergency medicine, and for his contribution to our Paramedic Science programme, which has been inspirational for students and staff.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

An interior designer and philanthropist, Laurence studied Fine Art at the Camberwell School of Art and Crafts, and his skills in drawing and understanding of design history have shaped his expertise.

His television credits include presenting BBC and Channel 4 series, Changing Rooms and BBC One documentary, In Search of England’s Green and Pleasant Land.

Laurence and his wife Jackie are patrons of LINC (The Leukaemia & Intensive Chemotherapy Fund) and the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. Laurence is also patron of the children’s charity MERU, which was co founded by his father, Trefor Llewelyn-Bowen, with Bill Bond in 1970.

Laurence has developed supportive links with our Fashion and Interior Design programmes, and is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of his achievements in design and philanthropy, and his support and inspiration of our students.

Photography credit: Steve Thorp

Dr Ingrid Pollard MBE

In a career which stretches back four decades, Ingrid has been instrumental in establishing photography as a leading art form, both in the UK and internationally.

Ingrid was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1953. A photographer, media artist and researcher, she is one of the leading figures in contemporary British art.

Ingrid has exhibited her work in a wide range of national and international venues, and her work has been collected by the Arts Council Collection, the V&A museum and the Tate.

Last year, she was one of four artists nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize, and in 2023, she received an MBE for services to art.

Ingrid is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of her significant career in arts and photography, and also her inspiring support of our Photography programmes.

Photography credit: Emile Holba

Teddy Burton

Teddy is a former Law student at University of Gloucestershire, graduating in 2010.

Today he is Chair of the Community Legitimacy Panel (CLP) in Gloucestershire, and an inspirational speaker on racial inequalities at events including the Black Police Association Conference in October 2022.

The CLP works to improve the experience of policing of ethnically diverse communities in the county, and includes nurses, broadcasters, students, and other public service-minded individuals. The panel’s work has been cited by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services as a significant contributor to engaging with communities, and treating people with fairness and respect.

Teddy is receiving an Honorary Fellowship for his contribution and leadership in promoting better relationships between the police and communities in Gloucestershire, and for his achievements as an alumnus.

Rupert Walters

Chair of the Race and Equality Commission in Gloucester, Rupert is a social entrepreneur and business owner.

Dissatisfied by the pace of change to alleviate inequalities, he started The Jigsaw, a Community Interest Group to create definitive change for black and minoritised groups.

The Jigsaw aims to build constructive collaborative partnerships that will innovate, lead and connect regional and national strategies and benefit communities.

It was through the Race and Equality Commission that the University began working with Rupert, establishing a Black, Asian Minority Ethnic Business Network, with meetings hosted both in the community and on campus.

Rupert is receiving an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his exceptional commitment and leadership in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in Gloucester and beyond, and also for his support in our efforts to promote these values throughout the University.

Chris Cundy

Chris is a Cheltenham-based musician who studied painting at the Cheltenham Art College, a predecessor of University of Gloucestershire.

His approach to music has established his reputation at the forefront of British contemporary classical and improvised music, with an extensive back catalogue of releases on major labels including Polydor and Geffen.

Collaborations and tours have seen him working with acclaimed artists, including sessions for Moby and The Blind Boys of Alabama, and playing saxophone in the Mercury Prize nominated band, Guillemots.

In the county, he leads the Cheltenham Improvisers’ Orchestra, enabling established and early career musicians to develop and maintain their practice in creative music making.

Chris is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Music in recognition of his outstanding international contemporary classical and improvised music career, and for the support he has provided for staff and students on our Music and Sound programmes.

Jill Douglas

Jill has made a lasting impact on both sports broadcasting and in the campaign to raise awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease.

Jill originally fronted Border TV’s Lookaround news magazine, before presenting BBC Scotland’s rugby union coverage on Sportscene in 1997. Since then, she has been a presenter and reporter for broadcasters including BBC, Sky, ITV and BT Sport, covering the Olympics, Rugby World Cups, cycling and snooker. Jill has also guest lectured for our Sports Journalism students.

She is chief executive of the My Name’5 Doddie charity, established by the late rugby union player Doddie Weir to raise funds for research and support around MND, and received an MBE for her services to sport and charity in 2022.

Jill is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for her contribution to sports journalism, and her commitment to charitable works.