Carol Vorderman MBE receives honorary doctorate from UWE Bristol

Carol Vorderman, the celebrated broadcaster, writer and cultural luminary, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by UWE Bristol this Wednesday (27th November) at Bristol Beacon.

This comes after her contributions to broadcasting, education, and efforts to inspire young people, particularly women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

She was awarded Honorary Doctor of Science for “leading by example, speaking truth to power, and using her voice to highlight causes close to her heart.”

Carol was one of three people celebrating honorary degrees this week, recognising her outstanding achievements in her field.

Vorderman’s journey began in North Wales, where she grew up in a single-parent household and overcame the challenges of poverty. At just 17-years-old, her academic talent led her to become the first person from North Wales to be accepted into the University of Cambridge, setting the stage for her remarkable career.

Her passion for mathematics elevated her into the national spotlight, beginning her role as Countdown presenter in 1982, which cemented her status as one of Britain’s most-loved TV personalities.

Beyond her television career, Vorderman has worked relentlessly to promote the education of STEM amongst young women and underrepresented groups, such as through her online coaching courses which helped half a million children during the pandemic, and her funding of bursaries to aspiring mathematics students. 

In her acceptance speech, Vorderman reflected on the personal significance of receiving the honorary degree from UWE, a university that has played an important role in her family’s life.

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Sharing a heartfelt tribute to her son, Cameron, who has special needs and graduated from UWE with a first-class degree after two years at Filton College, Vorderman said, “UWE gave him a chance, and it lifted him.”

Having made Bristol her home for almost two decades, Vorderman also expressed her deep admiration for the city and its vibrant student community, saying, “We’ve lived in our stunning and kind city of Bristol for nearly 20 years now and UWE and its students are a huge part of the city, bringing it to life in so many ways.”

She uses her platform, and presence in the city, to use her voice for positive change, also seen in her 2000 MBE award speech and her recent book Now What? On a Mission to Fix Broken Britain.

In closing, Vorderman expressed her hope for the future, emphasising the promise of the younger generation. She said: ‘They are more tolerant, kinder, more curious, and more creative than my generation was brought up to be.

“It was a delight to be among so many of that younger generation today. Thank you, UWE. I feel humbled.”

Featured image via YouTube.