Aled Haydn Jones
Pro Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters. It is an honour and a privilege to present Aled Haydn Jones for an Honorary Bachelor Degree of Arts of Aberystwyth University.
Aled was born in Aberystwyth in 1976, to his parents Haydn and Ann, and his family were owners of Caffi Morgan – one of Aberystwyth’s most popular local cafés. He attended Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth and Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig – Welsh medium primary and secondary schools respectively, completed his BTEC in Media Studies at Swansea College, and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
His radio career began at 14 years old, when he was the presenter of a slot on Radio Bronglais Aberystwyth. He joined the commercial radio station Radio Ceredigion after its launch in 1992, and eventually joined the infamous BBC Radio 1 as a runner in 1998, becoming a broadcast assistant, and now presenter and producer. Aled, aka “BB Aled” from his time presenting his Big Brother review slot, is possibly most known for his role on DJ Chris Moyles’ team, first joining the afternoon broadcast show, and overseeing the launch of the Chris Moyles Breakfast Show in 2004 – Radio 1’s longest ever running breakfast show. In 2008, Aled took the reigns as the presenter of Radio 1’s “The Surgery” on Sunday nights, facilitating young audiences to find sensible solutions to the problems they contact the show with. Aled is a proud Aberystwythian, and was instrumental in bringing the Radio 1 show to Aberystwyth and broadcasting live from the BBC studios in the department of theatre film and television studies. ‘Aberystwyth’ and the Welsh language have always featured heavily in the Chris Moyles breakfast show and Aber was further highlighted to the rest of the UK when the show returned to the town and Chris Moyles carried the Olympic torch through town and towards the university.
Aled is an incredible advocate for young people, and also chairs the Teen Heroes Panel, who along with youth charities, Radio 1 DJs and celebrities, choose three exceptional and courageous young people to receive Radio 1 Teen Heroes Awards. He also presented “The B Word” for BBC Radio 1 Wales, and “Social Action Bullying” for BBC Wales, both shows looking at the effects of bullying and how to combat it. He has hosted and chaired several forums for young people including “The Big Conversation” on Radio 1. Aled is constantly working to give young people a voice; he has chaired “Get Hired Live” at Wembley, an event for graduates to find employment at UK companies, chaired a Youth Health Conference funded by Birmingham Children’s Hospital for young people to share their thoughts on the NHS, and was a guest speaker at “Big Ideas Wales Challenge”, giving motivational talks to young entrepreneurs. Aled has also been a host for “The Welsh Tourism Awards”. Aberystwyth is exceptionally proud of Aled and his achievements, for promoting the town and for his work with young people.
Pro Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Aled Haydn Jones to you for an Honorary Bachelor Degree of Arts.
Stefan James Osgood
Pro Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters. It is an honour and a privilege to award an Honorary Bachelor of Science Degree of Aberystwyth University to Stefan Osgood.
Stefan Osgood, from Wallasey on the Wirral, came to study Mathematics at Aberystwyth University in 2012, and spent four years living in, studying in and making a lasting impact on the Aberystwyth University community. He was a great family member, friend, boyfriend and colleague to many of us here today, but for all of those present who did not have the privilege of knowing him, this is a brief outline of his contribution at Aberystwyth University, and to the community.
Stefan represented the University at Fencing. He was captain of the Men’s fencing team, fenced three Varsity tournaments, four years of BUCS tournaments, three University of Wales tournaments as well as numerous other tournaments representing the University. He was also involved in coaching the novice fencers and encouraging everyone to participate in the sport to the best of their ability. Stefan was the Vice President of AberSnow, again representing the University with the Snowboarding team at Varsity and on a national level. Before he held this office he was the Social Secretary of AberSnow, where he coined the phrase “Snowcial” and made everyone feel welcome.
Stefan was an enthusiastic contributor to RAG, devising events to raise money during RAG month and throughout the year for numerous charities, including MIND, a charity very close to his heart, and to the University. He threw himself into University life with enthusiasm, offering friendship, kindness and a healthy dose of anarchy to all who met him. He would never let someone sit alone or isolated. He either sorted out what was wrong or sat with them so they weren’t on their own.
In the early hours of Wednesday 9th of March 2016 Stefan took his own life, finally succumbing to the illness he had suffered from, quietly and with dignity for many years. And there, for a normal individual, the contribution should end. Only it doesn’t. In the aftermath of his death over £10,000 has been raised for MIND and that figure continues to grow. The Stefan’s Socks campaign, started at this year’s Varsity to raise awareness of mental health issues, has been taken up by Trinity St. David’s University, Swansea Vikings Rugby Club and Liverpool University Students’ Union, and continues to spread across the country. Mental Health Provision on all levels has been improved and will continue to be improved.
Stefan was awarded Full University Colours for his contribution to Sport at Aberystwyth, and in addition to his Colours Award, by an overwhelming number of nominations from the student body, Stefan was awarded Sports Personality of the Year. This is the first time in the Students’ Union’s history that this award has been given posthumously. He was also awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Students’ Union. Stefan was a much loved member of the student body. There is a reason for this: he was a kind and gentle human who held out his hand in friendship to everyone he met. They say that the brightest lights burn for the shortest time, but from this one bright light, a thousand more can now continue to shine.
Pro Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to invite Heidi Moulton and Laurence Osgood to accept this Honorary Degree on behalf of Stefan Osgood.