Wednesbury charity campaigner Suzy Richards whose son died in a terror attack in Tunisia is to receive honorary doctorate

Suzy Richards is set to be awarded both an Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship from Worcester University, the university which both her son's Owen and Joel attended.

Ms Richards will receive her awards at the graduation ceremony in March for her inspirational work in creating the Smile for Joel charity, which supports families affected by murder and terrorism.

Joel Richards had been studying at the university when he died, alongside his grandfather Pat and uncle Adrian, in the Sousse massacre in Tunisia in 2015, while his brother Owen was wounded, but survived.

Joel had been studying to be a teacher at Worcester when he died, and last year the university started a scholarship in his memory, while Owen went on to study at and graduate from the university in 2021.

Wednesbury-based Suzy and Owen Richards set up the charity Smile for Joel in the months following the massacre and have since raised many tens of thousands of pounds to support families who are victims of terrorism and murder and also worked to raise awareness of safety abroad.

The Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship are the latest honours to be bestowed on Suzy Richards, having won a Pride of Britain award and also being recognised with an MBE in 2023.

She said the news of the award had been an honour and a shock and spoke about the moment she received the award.

She said: “It’s such an honour to receive an Honorary Degree and Honorary Fellowship from the University.”

“It came as a complete shock as I received the letter and as I read it, I realised I had been chosen, and I was so surprised.”

“I read the letter and it outlined how I had been selected because of the way I had dealt with such loss, and coming through the other side of it and setting up the charity. I just do what I do to help people and raise awareness.”

Worcester University said that to be awarded both an Honorary Doctorate and an Honorary Fellowship was a rare distinction and symbolised the close relationship between the University for Suzy and for Owen, who is currently back at the University studying for his Post Graduate Certificate in Education and to earn Qualified Teacher Status.

Suzy said: “The first time I attended a graduation in Worcester Cathedral, I was collecting Joel’s degree posthumously.

“The second visit was to celebrate Owen receiving his degree, and the third visit will be special for a different reason, as I am there to receive my own award, so me, Joel and my son Owen will have all received our awards from Worcester University.

“The letter arrived during the 10th anniversary of when Joel died, and that felt very poignant. 

"We’d done so much last year, with launching the scholarship and so much more, so it felt like it ended a big year for Smile for Joel.”

Suzy Richards will receive her award on the same day as almost 700 invited graduands from disciplines including nursing and midwifery, sports coaching and exercise science, law, business, law, business and other disciplines.

Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Worcester University, said: “Suzanne has become a close and cherished member of our university community. We are honoured to present this recognition to her.

“A Fellowship and an Honorary degree, awarded together, are the highest honours that a university can confer. Suzanne Richards thoroughly deserves this recognition.

“The University of Worcester, which was founded to win the peace through education, has strong values of service, community and helping others.

“Suzanne’s courage, commitment, and dedication to supporting and serving others profoundly expresses these values. 

"We look forward to welcoming Suzanne back to Worcester Cathedral to receive her Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship alongside our marvellous graduates, who will receive their own very well-deserved degrees on the same day.”