Skip to content

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Receives Honorary Award

The Right Honorable Baroness Jan Royall, proud Forester and former Leader of the House of Lords, has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire.

Born in Hucclecote, Gloucestershire, she grew up in Newnham on Severn, where her parents ran a shop. She was educated at the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School and has lived in Blaisdon for more than 50 years.

Jan Royall is an experienced politician who has held significant ministerial and other roles in the last Labour government. In June 2004, she was created Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, of Blaisdon in the County of Gloucestershire, and entered the House of Lords.

Presenting her award at Gloucester Cathedral today, Baroness Rennie Fritchie DBE, Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, said: “It is for Jan’s outstanding work in politics, and her commitment to the County of Gloucestershire, that the University is honouring her today.”

Having served as a Government Whip and Government Spokesperson for Health, International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, she became Government Chief Whip in the Lords in 2008. Jan entered the Cabinet in 2008 as Leader of the Lords and held the titles of Lord President of the Council and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Jan is trustee of numerous charities including Crossroads Care in the Forest of Dean and Herefordshire.

Baroness Royall said: “As I was born in Gloucester and still live in the Forest of Dean the award of this degree is a special honour and privilege. I am delighted to be associated with the University which is going from strength to strength and is a beacon of excellence in the county and the wider world of education.”

Every year, the University confers honorary awards on distinguished individuals who have made an outstanding contribution locally, nationally or internationally or who have supported the University in some way.

They join around 2,500 graduating students at ceremonies in Cheltenham and Gloucester.