In April I received an envelope in the post with the University of Chichester postmark. I assumed it would be Alumni mail, asking me to buy a hoodie or something, so I was overwhelmed when it said I had been nominated for an Honorary Master in Education for all my work with children and young people!
I wrote back to the Vice-Chancellor to accept the award straight away then, in September went to meet Dr Chris Shelton, Head of Education and Diana Seach, one of my tutors who had nominated me for the award. It was such a lovely meeting where Chris wanted to know all about my different works and it made me realise how many things I have done since graduating!
I wrote my acceptance speech in early October, then came down with the worst bug since I was three! I had a horrible cough for two weeks so the day before the ceremony I had spoonfulls of honey to try to make my voice less croaky.
On Friday 25th October I arrived at 4 Canon Lane (behind Chichester Cathedral) with my parents and friend Wendy who was helping me. We were immediately met by friendly members of the university staff; I was absolutely delighted to see Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Mark Mason who had been my GCSE Humanities teacher and we had a very excited reunion! My first guest to arrive was Wellspring’s Chris North, then Caroline who was the SENCO at the school I work at.
I went with Wendy into another room, full of hangers with lots of coloured robes where I was met by a lovely man who explained how my gown and mortarboard should be worn. As soon as I put them on and looked in the mirror, I felt really excited and a bit magical; a bit like a teacher at Hogwarts!!
When I came out of the gowning room, my other guests were arriving; Bet who started as my personal tutor at Chichester College and has been an amazing friend ever since, and my brother and sister-in-law, George and Jenny. We all had lots of excited chats and photos before
the guests were asked to go to their seats in the cathedral where my cousins Helena and James were waiting.
I was taken to the Bishop’s Palace Gardens to be photographed before Chris Shelton walked with me and Wendy to the cathedral. The mortarboard was quite heavy and made my head wobble on each paving stone! We waited by the font for the rest of the university staff, and then I was ushered into the procession – I hadn’t realised I would be right at the front! We went up the centre aisle, past all the guests and students. I was so pleased when I saw Helena smiling at me! We then sat facing the audience and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane
Longmore made her opening speech. All my guests were seated at the front so I could see them all smiling at me which was very reassuring! Then, all the students were called individually and received their postgraduate degrees.
Next, Dr Chris Shelton invited me to come to the front while he read his citation about me and all my work. When he had finished, I was
presented with my Honorary Master of Education certificate by Terry Hancock, Interim Chair of Governors. This was the proudest moment of my life! I couldn’t believe that I was receiving this very smart scroll! There was a lot of clapping and then I was invited to make my speech. Magically a lectern appeared and Wendy was given the microphone to hold for me. This is what I said:
Vice-Chancellor, I am very pleased to be here today to receive this Honorary degree and am so grateful to the University of Chichester for their recognition of all my work.
My first visit to Chichester Cathedral was when I was fourteen, for my Great-Cousin, Betty Murray’s memorial service. Betty was the former Principal of Bishop Otter College so the reception was held at the University. I liked the buildings straight away and imagined myself
studying there as a grown up!
As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout my mainstream education, I was very lucky to have adults in my life who were kind and encouraging. As I grew up, I built good relationships with my own teachers who understood my needs, which helped me to achieve academically and later gain work experience in two primary schools.
While I was at Chichester College doing my A Levels, I enjoyed being treated more like an adult and loved the independence of driving around the campus by myself. During that time I became the Chair of Wellspring West Sussex, a charity for families of special needs
children. This gave me a very grown up responsibility! All the staff at Chichester College were so positive and helped me with choices about the next stage of my life.
When I was looking at degrees, staff at other universities gave me reasons why I wouldn’t be able to do certain things because of my disabilities, but University College Chichester were very supportive of me joining the Childhood Studies course, so it was an easy choice in the end!
For my second year placement I chose a local primary school and was lucky to meet staff there who worked with me and recognised my strengths to enable me to create rewarding relationships with the children. Throughout my time at university, I was well supported by all my tutors, personal assistants and friends and I have extremely happy memories of the three years I spent at the Bognor Regis and Bishop
Otter campuses.
I am very proud of everything that I have achieved since graduating in 2005. I love my job as a Teaching Assistant. Working with small groups of children and doing one to one support for the last 13 years has enabled me to fulfil my childhood ambition. Through my Craft Club and my work for Wellspring West Sussex, I enjoy meeting families and sharing all the things I love to do with them.
I would not have been able to achieve all that I have done without the encouragement of my parents and wider family, as well as fantastic
helpers and friends who have always kept me positive even when I have experienced bumps in the road.
My advice to young people is to always be positive and enthusiastic about what you want to achieve. Don’t let other people’s preconceptions of you be a barrier. If you are working with children and their families, always look at what they can do, not what they can’t.
When working with people with additional needs, do not make judgments without finding out about the person first.
With support and encouragement anything is possible!
I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the University of Chichester for awarding me with this personal honour; something I had never dreamed of! I wish all students graduating today success in their future careers. I give my good wishes to all the university staff, alumni and current students and I look forward to continuing my link with them all.
After my speech, there was more applause as I went back to my seat for the closing words from Professor Longmore and everyone sang Jerusalem before the staff and I processed back down the aisle. Lots of people were smiling at me! When I got to the back, I couldn’t believe the ceremony was over; it had been like a dream and I had managed my speech without coughing! I was photographed with the senior staff outside the cathedral which made me feel very important!
I met up with my family and other guests outside and we then went back to the Bishop’s Palace Gardens to take more photos before going into 4 Canon Lane for a lovely, relaxed lunch. I was congratulated again by the staff and I met another staff member who was a parent of a boy who had attended my Craft Club! This really rounded off the day for me as I’d had people from all parts of my life at the ceremony.
When I got home I couldn’t believe it had happened and I am still glowing from such an incredible occasion!
Lizzie Baily 2019
I wrote back to the Vice-Chancellor to accept the award straight away then, in September went to meet Dr Chris Shelton, Head of Education and Diana Seach, one of my tutors who had nominated me for the award. It was such a lovely meeting where Chris wanted to know all about my different works and it made me realise how many things I have done since graduating!
I wrote my acceptance speech in early October, then came down with the worst bug since I was three! I had a horrible cough for two weeks so the day before the ceremony I had spoonfulls of honey to try to make my voice less croaky.
On Friday 25th October I arrived at 4 Canon Lane (behind Chichester Cathedral) with my parents and friend Wendy who was helping me. We were immediately met by friendly members of the university staff; I was absolutely delighted to see Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Mark Mason who had been my GCSE Humanities teacher and we had a very excited reunion! My first guest to arrive was Wellspring’s Chris North, then Caroline who was the SENCO at the school I work at.
I went with Wendy into another room, full of hangers with lots of coloured robes where I was met by a lovely man who explained how my gown and mortarboard should be worn. As soon as I put them on and looked in the mirror, I felt really excited and a bit magical; a bit like a teacher at Hogwarts!!
When I came out of the gowning room, my other guests were arriving; Bet who started as my personal tutor at Chichester College and has been an amazing friend ever since, and my brother and sister-in-law, George and Jenny. We all had lots of excited chats and photos before
the guests were asked to go to their seats in the cathedral where my cousins Helena and James were waiting.
I was taken to the Bishop’s Palace Gardens to be photographed before Chris Shelton walked with me and Wendy to the cathedral. The mortarboard was quite heavy and made my head wobble on each paving stone! We waited by the font for the rest of the university staff, and then I was ushered into the procession – I hadn’t realised I would be right at the front! We went up the centre aisle, past all the guests and students. I was so pleased when I saw Helena smiling at me! We then sat facing the audience and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane
Longmore made her opening speech. All my guests were seated at the front so I could see them all smiling at me which was very reassuring! Then, all the students were called individually and received their postgraduate degrees.
Next, Dr Chris Shelton invited me to come to the front while he read his citation about me and all my work. When he had finished, I was
presented with my Honorary Master of Education certificate by Terry Hancock, Interim Chair of Governors. This was the proudest moment of my life! I couldn’t believe that I was receiving this very smart scroll! There was a lot of clapping and then I was invited to make my speech. Magically a lectern appeared and Wendy was given the microphone to hold for me. This is what I said:
Vice-Chancellor, I am very pleased to be here today to receive this Honorary degree and am so grateful to the University of Chichester for their recognition of all my work.
My first visit to Chichester Cathedral was when I was fourteen, for my Great-Cousin, Betty Murray’s memorial service. Betty was the former Principal of Bishop Otter College so the reception was held at the University. I liked the buildings straight away and imagined myself
studying there as a grown up!
As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout my mainstream education, I was very lucky to have adults in my life who were kind and encouraging. As I grew up, I built good relationships with my own teachers who understood my needs, which helped me to achieve academically and later gain work experience in two primary schools.
While I was at Chichester College doing my A Levels, I enjoyed being treated more like an adult and loved the independence of driving around the campus by myself. During that time I became the Chair of Wellspring West Sussex, a charity for families of special needs
children. This gave me a very grown up responsibility! All the staff at Chichester College were so positive and helped me with choices about the next stage of my life.
When I was looking at degrees, staff at other universities gave me reasons why I wouldn’t be able to do certain things because of my disabilities, but University College Chichester were very supportive of me joining the Childhood Studies course, so it was an easy choice in the end!
For my second year placement I chose a local primary school and was lucky to meet staff there who worked with me and recognised my strengths to enable me to create rewarding relationships with the children. Throughout my time at university, I was well supported by all my tutors, personal assistants and friends and I have extremely happy memories of the three years I spent at the Bognor Regis and Bishop
Otter campuses.
I am very proud of everything that I have achieved since graduating in 2005. I love my job as a Teaching Assistant. Working with small groups of children and doing one to one support for the last 13 years has enabled me to fulfil my childhood ambition. Through my Craft Club and my work for Wellspring West Sussex, I enjoy meeting families and sharing all the things I love to do with them.
I would not have been able to achieve all that I have done without the encouragement of my parents and wider family, as well as fantastic
helpers and friends who have always kept me positive even when I have experienced bumps in the road.
My advice to young people is to always be positive and enthusiastic about what you want to achieve. Don’t let other people’s preconceptions of you be a barrier. If you are working with children and their families, always look at what they can do, not what they can’t.
When working with people with additional needs, do not make judgments without finding out about the person first.
With support and encouragement anything is possible!
I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the University of Chichester for awarding me with this personal honour; something I had never dreamed of! I wish all students graduating today success in their future careers. I give my good wishes to all the university staff, alumni and current students and I look forward to continuing my link with them all.
After my speech, there was more applause as I went back to my seat for the closing words from Professor Longmore and everyone sang Jerusalem before the staff and I processed back down the aisle. Lots of people were smiling at me! When I got to the back, I couldn’t believe the ceremony was over; it had been like a dream and I had managed my speech without coughing! I was photographed with the senior staff outside the cathedral which made me feel very important!
I met up with my family and other guests outside and we then went back to the Bishop’s Palace Gardens to take more photos before going into 4 Canon Lane for a lovely, relaxed lunch. I was congratulated again by the staff and I met another staff member who was a parent of a boy who had attended my Craft Club! This really rounded off the day for me as I’d had people from all parts of my life at the ceremony.
When I got home I couldn’t believe it had happened and I am still glowing from such an incredible occasion!
Lizzie Baily 2019
