QUB honours Lumley and Ellis with doctorates
ACTORS Joanna Lumley and Belfast-born James Ellis are among those to be honoured by Queen's University this week during its centenary graduation ceremonies.
The Absolutely Fabulous star will receive a doctorate for services to the performing arts, as will Mr Ellis, a former Methodist College student who appeared in TV's Z Cars, Dr Who and Ballykissangel.
Honorary degrees will be conferred on the Rev Harold Good and the Rev Alec Reid who witnessed IRA decommissioning, as well as the Booker prize-winning novelist Anne Enright and former Queen's pro-chancellors Lady McLaughlin and Dr Chris Gibson.
Honorary doctorates will also be conferred on recipients including vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge Prof Alison Richard, distinguished historian Prof Donald Akenson, journalist and broadcaster Prof Laurie Taylor and eminent haematologist Dr Chitra Bharucha, who is vice-chairperson of the BBC Trust.
Among those graduating will be a student who battled dyslexia to earn a top degree. Charles Campalani, 22, overcame difficulties with speech and understanding other people.
The south Belfast man will receive a 2:1 bachelor degree in engineering in chemistry and chemical engineering.
He said people affected by dyslexia needed to be open about their difficulties.
"It means others are comfortable around you and not treading on eggshells all the time," he added.
Mr Campalani, who also suffers from dyspraxia – a neurological problem – has difficulty sequencing the alphabet and the months of the year, but he is a member of Queen's volleyball team, speaks three languages and is a qualified dive master who has just returned from an expedition in the Red Sea.
Mr Campalani added: "Queen's has helped me in many ways. As well as assessing my needs every year, they helped me with computer programmes and a note-taker for some classes which meant I could concentrate on understanding my lecturers."
"It is also helpful to be clear not just about what your difficulties are but explain to others how they can best help you and you will find they are very willing to do so," he urged.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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