Honorary Doctorate for Pro Chancellor

University Pro Chancellor Richard Roberts CBE OBE was among those awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD), Lampeter last week.

Mr Roberts said he was immensely pleased to receive the award, adding that: “There is no greater honour one can achieve than being bestowed an honour by your university.”

A self-employed optometrist, he graduated from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) in 1966 where he had also been President of the Students’ Union. Mr Roberts went on to lecture in UWIST Department of Optometry, before serving as Chairman of the UWIST Association of Past Students.

In 1998 he was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours List, and in July 2000 he was appointed Consultant Optometric Adviser to the National Assembly of Wales.

Most recently he was awarded a CBE in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours and in 2012 he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Optical Confederation.

Mr Roberts congratulated all UWTSD graduates, adding: “I would urge all graduates to maintain the principles of integrity and ask that you add value to the work that you go on to do and in the contributions you will make.

“You have the chance to shape the society in which you live. You are the custodians of the future. And you have great opportunities to rise to the challenges that come your way.”

Mr Roberts was a member of the Council from 1992 to 2012 and Vice-Chair of the Council between 2004 to 2011 and acted as Chair between August 2011 to January 2012. He has been a member of University Court since 1992 and was a member of the Policy and Resources Committee (formerly Strategy and Resources Committee) between 2000-2012.