Winner 2019
Roger Cowdrey
Teaching BA(Hons) 1968
After leaving the Brighton College of Education in 1968, Roger had several successful careers working in teaching, in multi-national IT, in supporting entrepreneurs and as an international consultant helping to establish entrepreneurial support organisations in Europe and the Middle East.
Roger has combined his work with an extensive media career including appearing on business programmes for BBC, airline in-flight programmes, national CDs, videos and foreign media. This has resulted in a number of articles and his first book ‘Creating the Entrepreneurial Mindset’ published in 2013.
Roger supports the Roger Cowdrey Breakthrough award for Entrepreneurship in the Arts.
Winner 2017
Tom Yendell Expressive Arts BA(Hons) 1985
Tom received the alumni award in recognition of his prolific career as a Mouth and Foot Painting Artist and his numerous charitable accomplishments.
Tom was born with no arms due to the drug Thalidomide prescribed to his mother during pregnancy. However, this has not stopped Tom from achieving his objectives and he said he wouldn’t choose to have arms now even if he could – to him there are no such things as obstacles, he just does things in a different way.
He divides his time between art and charity work. He chaired their Treloar alumni association for 25 years and founded Flat Spaces Foundation, a charity that provides holiday accommodation for people with disabilities. He is also dedicated to his work with The Education and Book Appeal which raises funds to help children in Ghana attend school and providing them with school shoes, uniform, bag and fee.
Winner 2016
Adam Pearson
Business Management BA(Hons) 2007
Adam is an award-winning actor, presenter and campaigner, who received the alumnus award in recognition of his campaigning achievements to eliminate prejudice against people with disability and disfigurement.
Adam has neurofibromatosis which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow along nerve endings. It made him a target for bullying and discrimination but Adam has used his talents to combat prejudice and campaign for people like him.
Adam has won a RADAR Award and a Diana Award for his work with the Changing Faces charity as well as working on award-winning series including Channel 4’s The Undateables and Beauty and the Beast: The Ugly Face of Prejudice, the critically acclaimed BBC Three documentaries, Adam Pearson: Freak Show and The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime. In 2013, Adam appeared opposite Scarlett Johansson in the BAFTA-nominated science-fiction horror film, Under the Skin. Adam is an accomplished public speaker and has delivered a TEDx Talk as well as multiple speeches at conferences and schools.
Photo: (c) Mark Johnson/Getty 2015.
Joint winner 2015
Dr Gary Brickley
Sports Science BSc(Hons) 1994, Sport and Leisure Studies PhD 2000, Cardiology MSc 2003
(Joint winner with Norman Cook)
Gary has coached in five Paralympic games helping Team GB’s Paracyclists in Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio 2016. Gary’s work with paracyclists has contributed significantly to Team GB’s medal haul.
In 2012 Gary’s achievements were recognised with a prestigious Mussabini medal when he was inducted into the coaching hall of fame, alongside the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson. His research has been presented around the world.
Gary received the alumni award in recognition of his outstanding Paralympic coaching achievements and field expertise.
Joint winner 2015
Norman Cook
British Studies BA(Hons) 1985
(Joint winner with Dr Gary Brickley)
Norman is perhaps more famously known as international DJ and music producer Fatboy Slim. In a stellar career spanning three decades, Norman has accrued 10 MTV Video Music Awards, three Brit Awards, a Grammy and an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
Norman has been a regular participant in University of Brighton activities, lending his fame to the university’s alumni engagement initiatives.
Norman was presented with the alumnus award in recognition of his major contribution to the music industry, his ongoing support of the University of Brighton and as an ambassador for the city of Brighton & Hove.
Winner 2014
Faye McClelland
Physiotherapy BSc(Hons) 2013
Faye graduated with a degree in physiotherapy in 2013 and still managed to retain her title as world paratriathlon champion. Faye, also the reigning European champion, won her fourth paratriathlon world title in as many years as she led home a British one-two-three in London's Hyde Park last September 2013. She was awarded the Tata Steel British Triathlon Female Paratriathlete of the Year and was crowned Disabled Sports Personality of the Year at the 11th annual Sussex Sports Awards.
Faye was selected as the winner of the alumnus award in recognition of her outstanding sporting achievements and her ongoing support of the university. She trains with the Bodyworks XTC team based at the university’s campus in Eastbourne.
Winner 2013
Chris Riddell OBE
Honorary Doctor of Arts 2019
Graphic Design BA(Hons) 1984
Chris is a renowned illustrator, writer of children’s books and political cartoonist for The Observer. In 2015, he was also named Children’s Laureate 2015–2017.
Chris has won multiple awards for his illustration and writing and was one of the first alumni to join the university’s Alumni Advice Network. He has given his time and talents repeatedly to support our students’ experience.
In 2011, Chris collaborated with the university’s widening participation office on the creation of an engaging character to appeal to local primary school children. Chris designed the new character – Professor C Gull – who has become a figurehead for the university’s programme to inspire children from non-traditional backgrounds to consider higher education.
Winner 2012
Julie Howell
Library and Information Studies BA(Hons) 1992
Disability rights campaigner and public speaking coach, Julie, was named our inaugural winner of the University of Brighton Alumni Award.
The award recognised her public campaigning for the university, the support she has given students, her championing of diversity and equality issues, her achievements in setting up advocacy websites for people with disabilities, such as Jooly’s Joint website which is accessed by 60,000 people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and her work as a mentor with the university’s award-winning Momentum scheme. Julie was a founding member of the university’s Alumni Advice Network.