Wrexham University awards Honorary Fellowships to outstanding community champions

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025

Four outstanding individuals and one community organisation, who have made remarkable contributions to the community in North Wales, have been recognised with Honorary Fellowships by Wrexham University.

During this week’s graduation ceremonies, the University conferred Honorary Fellowships to:

• Renowned poet and author Aled Lewis Evans for his contribution to the Welsh language, arts and culture in the region and his longstanding support of the University.
• Huw Jones MBE, Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK chairman, in recognition of his services to North Wales, business and green engineering.
• Liam Evans-Ford, Executive Director of Theatr Clwyd, to recognise his contribution to arts and culture in the region and his longstanding support of the University.
• Critical Care Practitioner, Kate Humphries for her dedication to advancing the development of the University’s Paramedic students, and commitment to trauma informed practice.
• North East Wales Multicultural Hub in recognition of their work in promoting and celebrating the diversity of cultures in our community.

Honorary Fellowships are prestigious awards bestowed upon individuals and groups in recognition of their significant commitment to the University and the wider community.

The first Honorary Fellowship to be awarded this week was presented to Mr Lewis Evans on Monday afternoon during the first graduation ceremony of the week.

Mr Lewis Evans, a Wrexham-based writer and minister, has made a distinguished contribution to Welsh literature and culture through decades of poetry, prose, and broadcasting. Since 1982, he has published numerous collections in Welsh and English, including Driftwood, Someone else in the audience, and Afterglow.

A former presenter on Marcher Sound, he regularly contributes to BBC Radio Cymru – and today serves as Minister in Wrexham and Chester, following two decades as a lay-preacher across Wales, and continues to engage audiences through literary events and cultural reflection.

In recent months, he was interviewed at the Wrexham National Eisteddfod by Bethan Gwanas in the Literature Tent about his life and publications, and organised a special event at Maes D to look back at the eight National Eisteddfodau that have taken place in the Wrexham area between 1876 and 2025.

On receiving the honour, he said: “I feel deeply honoured and humbled to receive this recognition. Writing has been a lifelong journey for me, through poetry, radio, and ministry, so to be acknowledged in this way, especially here in Wrexham, is profoundly moving.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share stories that connect us, and I hope they continue to inspire peace, reflection, and a sense of belonging.”

On Tuesday, it was a special moment for Mr Evans-Ford as he became an Honorary Fellow in Theatr Clwyd’s sister venue, the William Aston Hall based on campus at the University.

He was recognised for his work at Theatr Clwyd, Wales’ largest producing theatre, where he has led transformative growth since 2016 – increasing turnover from £5m to £12.2m, delivering more than 72 world premieres, and securing major UK Theatre, Olivier, and Stage awards.

He is currently leading on a £50m redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd’s Grade II listed building and has positioned the theatre as a national leader in social impact, with pioneering partnerships across health, housing, and education.

Mr Evans-Ford said: “I feel deeply proud to be recognised by Wrexham University and to now hold the status of Honorary Fellow, in recognition of my nine years as CEO at Theatr Clwyd. To be responsible for the biggest-producing theatre in Wales and one of the biggest in the UK is, in itself, a huge privilege.

“However, the most important thing to me is the impact Theatr Clwyd has on people, and the care, insight, ambition, and world awareness that the arts can offer for communities. I am proud of the referral partnerships we have with the NHS, social services, refugee charities, care homes, and housing associations. I’m proud of the lives we’ve impacted, the young people we’ve helped inspire, and the social change we continue to work towards to realise our mission – ‘To Make the World a Happier Place’.

“The values of Theatr Clwyd align perfectly with those of Wrexham University, making this Fellowship an even greater honour and privilege. I look forward to continuing to support the University’s work even more in the future through partnership working and within this new ambassadorial role.”

The third Honorary Fellowship awarded this week was to Huw Jones MBE, who has led Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK for more than 50 years, including 40 years as Managing Director and the past decade as Chairman, driving its growth to a £155 million turnover and one of the UK’s largest privately owned plant fleets.

A champion of young talent, Mr Jones established an award-winning apprenticeship scheme that now accounts for 40 per cent of the 550-strong workforce. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, serves on CECA Wales and CBI Wales committees, and was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his outstanding contribution to the sector.

Mr Jones also has a long-standing relationship with Wrexham University, having completed his studies at our predecessor institution, North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI).  

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK also runs full degree apprenticeships, partnered with the University and Coleg Cambria, which includes a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying.

Mr Jones MBE said: “Personally, I’m absolutely thrilled to be recognised with this prestigious Honorary Fellowship. As a North Wales native, it’s fantastic to see the positive impact we’ve had in the area.

“From upskilling young people through our apprenticeship scheme, to engaging with local suppliers on our projects, I’m proud we’ve contributed to enhancing the economic and social status of various communities through our work. The firm’s growth is down to the dedication of our team members, many of whom began as apprentices or trainees before entering senior positions. I’m very thankful for their commitment.  

“Looking ahead, I hope we continue to establish our presence as a leading civil engineering firm by delivering high-quality schemes across the UK, especially within North Wales.”

Ms Humphries, who is a Critical Care Practitioner (CCP) with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), working in partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance, was the penultimate recipient of an Honorary Fellow as part of the University’s autumn 2025 graduation ceremonies.

Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor, and Kate Humphries

Ms Humphries joined the Wales Air Ambulance service back in 2017, bringing with her a strong background in paramedicine, having previously worked with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service.

She is involved in the education and training of advanced life support courses for adults and children to a wide range of healthcare professionals and developing Advanced Practice MSc modules for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and Retrieval and Transfer Medicine. She leads on development of internal training for Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) and Adult Critical Care Transfer Service (ACCTS) colleagues, including expanding the scope of practice of paramedics and nurses within the service to ensure the best possible care for the people of Wales.

She has provided valuable support to the University, through giving students real-world experiential learning opportunities, and helping to drive the institution’s work to improve trauma education within Wales.

Ms Humphries said she was “honoured” to have been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University.

She said: “In my day job I work for a pre-hospital critical care team, delivering some of the most advanced paramedic-led interventions to the people of Wales. The rate at which the role of a paramedic has developed is incredible, and the scope of practice and opportunities available for graduates is huge, but with that must come a sound knowledge base, and the ability to provide evidence-based care to those requiring our service is integral to patient safety.

“This is gained through education, and it has been my privilege to deliver enhanced and advanced critical care practice sessions and run trauma-based workshops for Wrexham University students.

“Paramedic education and the development of paramedic practice is so important to me, and I am grateful for being able to support the next generation of paramedics. The enthusiasm and dedication of the students and staff at Wrexham is outstanding, and I am confident that they will provide immense benefit to the populations they serve. It is a privilege to play a small role in that process, and I am immensely humbled by this recognition.”

The final Honorary Fellowship of the week, which was awarded yesterday (Wednesday), was to the North East Wales Multicultural Hub. This was only the second time that the University has presented a collective award to a group.

The Hub has been recognised for its outstanding support of North East Wales’ diverse communities, creating inclusive spaces for cultural events, learning, and intergenerational engagement. Through its work, the group has fostered greater understanding of different traditions, strengthened regional pride, and inspired a shared commitment to the future of the area.

Speaking on behalf of the North East Wales Multicultural Hub, Iolanda Banu Viegas, Project Coordinator, said: “We at the North Wales Multicultural Hub are truly honoured and delighted to receive this Fellowship from Wrexham University. It is a meaningful recognition of our team’s tireless efforts to create spaces where people from all backgrounds can connect, share, and thrive.

“This award inspires us to continue fostering a more inclusive and vibrant Wales for everyone.”