'I would love Joel to be here - but it's an honour to receive in his name' - Black Country campaigner speaks of university doctorate and continuing to honour her son's memory
It has been a time to reflect on the past, but also to inspire people for a charity campaigner as she received a special set of honorary awards from a university close to her heart.
Suzy Richards, whose son Joel died in a terror attack in Tunisia alongside her brother Adrian and father Pat, received her Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship from Worcester University, the university which both Joel and his brother Owen attended, on Tuesday,
Ms Richards, who lives in Wednesbury, was given her awards at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday in recognition of her inspirational work in creating the Smile for Joel charity, which supports families affected by murder and terrorism.
She said that receiving the awards had been bittersweet as she would have loved to have Joel there, but said the university had given her some happy times as well.
She said: "Joel didn't get to finish his degree as, when he died, he had just finished his second year, but he was well on his way to getting a first and the university gave him a posthumous first-class degree, but that was the most upsetting day because of going to fetch something he should have received himself and I was in tears.
"Then, in 2021, Owen got his degree there and it was a much happier occasion, seeing him get his degree, and now I'm getting mine, making it a hat-trick as all three of us will have got an honour from Worcester University."
