Honour for TV star Suzi

bringing science to a mass audience.

Suzi was born in the city and an early job was as a lighting technician at the Grand Theatre, where she was presented with her award on Wednesday (SEP9).

She went on to study business studies and finance at what was then Wolverhampton Polytechnic but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity took her to Japan before her course ended.

On receiving her honour, she said she was thrilled, excited and that it was a moment she wanted to savour.

She added: “For the last 18 years I have had a recurring nightmare – once or twice a year – that I’m sitting in Compton Campus waiting for my final exam. I look down, read the question and realise that I haven’t got a clue what the answer is because I haven’t done my degree.

“I hope that after today that nightmare will end. This is such an amazing honour for me and I can’t believe this is happening.”

Suzi is well known for her sports presentation, reporting on a range of different sport, but most notable the MotoGP for the BBC. She was the world’s first female presenter for motorcycle racing and has also presented coverage of Wimbledon, The London Marathon, Royal Ascot, and the Olympic Games.

Presenting The Gadget Show, on Channel 5 has broadened Suzi’s recognition. The weekly science and technology programme has brought science to a new generation.

Conferring the award, Dr Derek Walton, of he University’s School of Applied Sciences, said: “This is the first part of Suzi’s life we wish to honour: the positive role model for her journalistic work and in bringing the important subjects of science and technology to a mass audience.

“The second part of Suzi’s life we wish to honour is for her charity work.”

In 2006, Suzi appeared as a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses. As she was voted off the show she revealed that she had fallen off her horse no less than 12 times, including a first fall onto her head and neck. She is a patron of Wolverhampton charity Promise Dreams and an ambassador for UK Youth.

Suzi congratulated graduates and urged them to take part in the next Run for Dreams fun run, which will take place in Wolverhampton on October 11. Application forms can be downloaded from either www.promisedreams.co.uk or Suzi's own site www.suziperry.com.

Further information

For more information please contact Emma Kilvert in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003.