Book Club

By the end of 2009, 27 degree ceremonies took place across the UK and in Europe. In attendance at most will have been individuals bestowed with an honorary degree as recognition of achievements in their field. Here we look at some of the latest additions, including author Roddy Doyle...

In April The Open University degree ceremony in Ireland took place at the Helix, an arts centre based at Dublin City University. Receiving honorary doctorates on the day were Brendan Tuohy, for his exceptional contribution to education and culture, and Irish novelist, playwright and dramatist Roddy Doyle, who received an honorary degree for his services to arts. For those not at the Dublin ceremony but who like an amusing read, here is Roddy Doyle’s speech in its entirety…

“I’m delighted to be here this afternoon in the midst of such  happiness, very pleased to be present at this celebration of your great achievement – and honoured to be the recipient of this – and I use the word in its Irish context – ‘yoke’.

“I’ve known about The Open University since I was a teenager. Before the invention of proper daytime television, it was The Open University or nothing. I chose The Open University. When I was at home from school, sick or pretending to be sick, I sat and watched men with bad beards and corduroy trousers that even in black and white looked garish, as they filled the blackboards with symbols and numbers and mathematical formulae. I hadn’t a clue what I was looking at and I knew, even then, that I would never know what I was looking at. But it was on; it was telly and I was grateful for it. I think I remember other programmes, biology, geography – strange yokes working their way up tubes, rivers working their way down mountains. But it’s the men at the blackboards doing the hard sums I want to pay tribute to today. Because I like to think it was those chalk-covered mathematicians who propelled me towards a career in words and literature. I am what I am because of The Open University.

“Today – especially today – there is one thing I love about The Open University. It’s the word in its title, Open. It’s the welcome, the invitation to learn – to enter, to return. It’s an Open door, at a time when more and more doors are being very quickly slammed. Today, in Ireland, words that were long fought for – words like ‘special needs’ and ‘disadvantages’, and the basic rights that these words represent, are being made to fade away and disappear. Suddenly we’re being told that there is no direct correlation between quality of education and class size. We don’t have to listen too carefully to hear the sound of slamming doors. But the Open is still there, in Open University – it’s there for us, and it isn’t even Irish. I’ve always thought there was something magnificent about that, the generosity of spirit and the sense of justice that went into its naming. Today, I think it’s vital – an inspiration and a reminder. We’re living in mean times – I think. But we don’t have to. The Open in Open University should coax us, and provoke us – and perhaps shame us. So, I’m very proud to be honoured by The Open University, and very pleased that the event is taking place in DCU [Dublin City University] – another place that has Opened the door to many people more familiar with the sound of the door being slammed.

“Ireland being Ireland, I’m sure there are some among you who are saying to yourselves, ‘He’s being honoured today; God love him, he must be dying.’ You’re even trying to figure out the ailment. ‘It might be a brain tumour, because there’s nothing wrong with his lungs and he’s talking a load of shite.’ So, I just want to assure you that I’m very well. I’m well able for solids and, more often that not, I remember to close my fly after I’ve been to the jacks. I’ve just finished a novel; it’ll be out next year. It’s called The Dead Republic. As the title suggests, it’ll have a pink cover, and a girl with shopping bags trying to catch a taxi. I’ve just started an episodic story for the multicultural paper Metro Eireann about a Nigerian woman who is running in the local elections, for Fianna Fáil. It’ll appear every week, starting next week, until after the elections in June. And I’ve recently been involved in Opening a writing centre, called Fighting Words, not far from here, very close to Croke Park. We provide writing classes for primary school kids, secondary school kids and adults – and it’s free. It’s our Open door. There’s actually a magic door, a revolving bookshelf, that the kids come through every morning. It’s free because we have a growing body of volunteers who give their time, and have the time of their lives while they’re giving it. I’d love to volunteer. No formal qualifications are necessary, although, by all means, bring your degrees. If you’re interested, have a look at our website – www.fightingwords.ie

“The contact details are there, and much of the work that’s been done since we Opened in January. It’s a lovely place, an invitation to children to express themselves, to create. And it just occurred to me, as I wrote that last, slightly pompous sentence, that it’s possible a few of the children, confronted by all the words and sentences at Fighting Words, will be propelled towards careers in numbers and mathematical formulae. They don’t know it yet – but they’ll be because of The Open University. Thank you very, very much.”

And here are some of the other 2009 honorary graduates...

• Professor Carol Ann Duffy attended the first Manchester degree ceremony of the year. The UK’s first female Poet Laureate received her honorary award for services to the arts.
• Kate Humble of BBC’s Springwatch attended the Birmingham ceremony. She was awarded an honorary degree for work in areas of special educational concern to the University.
• Author of more than 50 poetry books for adults and children, Roger McGough received his honorary award for services to the arts at the fourth London degree ceremony of the year.
• Former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite attended the degree ceremony in Ely. He received his honorary degree for exceptional contribution to education and culture.
• Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, attended the first degree ceremony of the year in London. She received her honorary award for exceptional contribution to education and culture.
• Dr Adam Hart-Davis, writer and broadcaster-presenter, received an honorary degree at the Torquay ceremony for exceptional contribution to education and culture.
• Dame Stephanie Shirley was awarded her honorary degree at the Brighton degree ceremony. She was honoured for services to the educationally underprivileged.
• Recording artist Julian Bream attended the Portsmouth degree ceremony. The classical guitarist received his honorary degree for services to the arts.
• Brendan Tuohy was awarded anhonorary degree in Dublin for exceptional contribution to education and culture. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland.

• Meet some of the other 2009 OU graduates
• Learning reform: degree ceremonies in prisons