Inspiration everywhere at University of Wolverhampton lunch
There were plenty of inspirational faces around the tables as the University of Wolverhampton welcomed some of its honorary graduates to a special dinner to mark the relaunched Chancellor's Hall.
The university welcomed its Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, on his first official visit to the renovated hall, as well as some of its famous honorary graduates.
These include the heroic Lisa Potts-Webb, who 20 years ago bravely stepped into the path of a machete wielding attacker to protect the children at the Blakenhall nursery where she worked.
The deserving accolades she received in recognition of her courage, included a George Medal and an Honorary Fellowship from the University in 2008.
Following this, she decided to study at the university and completed a three-year Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing in 2013 and a one-year BSc in Public Health.
"It was fantastic, and I've had a close relationship with the university from the beginning," she said.
Lisa is also grateful for the support the university has given to her charity Believe to Achieve, which supports Wolverhampton primary school children through mentoring and other activities to help build their confidence.
"I only have to ring up and ask if I need a room for the charity work, or support with anything like websites. And we also have volunteers from the university who come in for work experience," she said. "The university, for a lot of people, opens doors."
Lisa was also keen to encourage others to follow in her footsteps and go to university later in life, with her starting her nursing diploma when she was 35.
"People often think, especially those my age, that they can't go back and study, but it was the best thing I did.
"And particularly in my area as a nurse and a health visitor.
"Mature nurses are very good because they have the wealth of experience in the world beforehand."
Also in attendance was the deserving recipient of a honorary doctorate, fund-raiser Blind Dave Heeley, who became the first blind person to complete seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents back in 2008.
In 2011 he was honoured by the university and made a Doctor of letters.
"Since then I've been amazed at how much the university has grown, not only nationally but internationally," he said.
Dave jokingly added: "It's lovely. I do get a lot of stick from the guys at home in West Bromwich though, obviously being a Baggies fan, but with this from Wolverhampton. They nicknamed me Doctor Dingle!"
Also among the honorary graduates were Anthony Collins, former CEO of Virgin Trains, David Dodd, co-founder of Poundland, Mark O'Shea, snake expert, and Trevor Leeks of Jaguar Land Rover.
