Honorary fellowship for Paul Murphy MP

28 February 2009

The Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy MP, has received an honorary fellowship from Glyndŵr University at a ceremony in Wrexham to mark the university’s inauguration.

The award was made in recognition of Mr Murphy’s outstanding contribution to the development of government in Wales following the introduction of devolution in 1999.

Although Glyndŵr University was officially created in July of last year with the granting of university title by the Privy Council, the formal celebration was held at a ceremony on Saturday 28 February, which also saw the installation of the University’s Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor and the presentation of the University’s coat of arms.

Mr Murphy said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive this award. I have followed the University’s progress with great interest over the years and so it is a privilege to be honoured by the University at the start of an exciting new chapter in the University’s history.

“It is also a special day for the whole of Wrexham and North Wales and it is good to see the University and the community recognising the close links that bind them together.”

During Mr Murphy’s periods in ministerial office he has been at the heart of a number of significant constitutional changes. Not only was his first period as Secretary of State for Wales dominated by the creation of the National Assembly but he was also at the heart of the discussions leading up to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland that led to the restitution of a devolved administration in Belfast.

Professor Michael Scott, the newly installed Vice-Chancellor of Glyndŵr University, was full of praise for Mr Murphy.

He said: “Paul Murphy has been at the centre of government for most of the past decade. Throughout that time he has been a great supporter of Glyndŵr University. It is fitting therefore that we have been able to recognise his work by inviting him to become a fellow of the University.”

Recognising the special role of Glyndŵr University in the local community, the University has also bestowed honorary fellowships on the counties of Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

The first citizens in the form of the Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor David Griffiths, the Chairman of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Raymond Bartley, and the Chairman of Flintshire County Council, Councillor Quentin Dodd, received the fellowships at the inauguration ceremony.

Professor Scott added: “Glyndŵr University has strong links with all three counties, and their support was instrumental in creating the Glyndŵr University we have today. We work closely with all three counties for the benefit of the local and regional economy and for the people of North Wales, and I am very pleased to recognise that close relationship at such an important celebration for the University.”