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Performing artists, media stars and charity workers among Barking and Dagenham residents celebrating success at UEL's final graduation ceremony

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Ilford-born stage and screen actor Tamzin Outhwaite and playwright, author, and performance poet Valerie Mason-John, who grew up in Barnardo's Children's village in Barkingside, joined hundreds of University of East London (UEL) graduates, including many Barking and Dagenham residents, celebrating academic success with family and friends at an awards ceremony held at London’s Barbican Hall on Wednesday 12 December .

Lord Rix, Chancellor of the University of East London, personally awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates to more than four hundred graduates of UEL’s School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies.

Barking and Dagenham residents celebrating their academic success include: Tewogbade Adedeji (28), of Bastable Avenue, Barking, who graduated with a 2:1 from his Combined Honours degree in Media and Communication Studies. Tewogbade said: “It’s been three years that I’ll never forget. Studying has affected every aspect of my life in a positive way and I’m glad that I’ve got something so worthwhile to show for my efforts. I’m now working for a Christian TV station as a video editor. I’m really enjoying it and using lots of the skills that I learnt on my course.”

Alexandra Rogacewicz (24), of Oulton Crescent, Barking, graduated with a first from her Combined Honours degree in Cultural Studies with Creative and Professional Writing. Alexandra said: “My degree was great – I really enjoyed the course and it’s definitely improved my employment opportunities. I’m now working as an administrator at Help the Aged and looking forward to developing my career in the charity sector.”

Tashinga Takawira (21), of Clemence Road, Dagenham, graduated with a 2:1 from her BA (Hons) degree in Media Studies. Tashinga said: "It feels really good to be gradauting; I'm very proud of myself and my friends and family are very proud of me, too. I enjoyed the degree; it was interesting and I did some great work experience placements at ITV and Channel 5. Now I'm about to go travelling, before beginning my career in film production."

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Annette Kamara (39), who graduated with a 2:1 from her BA (Hons) degree in Performing Arts: Community Development and won the Institute for Performing Arts Development Field Award.

Annette, a mother of five, said: “I learnt so much during my degree about the relevance to society of the creative arts and performance, as well as about the satisfaction and liberation of being able to express myself. I gained in confidence year after year, and the variety of people I met, the books I read, and the interesting intelligent tutors who were so down to earth all added to my growing sense of self-worth.

“Studying for this degree has made an enormous impact on my life and I’ve now started on UEL’s new Masters in Writing: Imaginative Practice. My children are very proud of me and recently came to see me at Stratford Circus where I was involved in a programme of cabaret nights called 'The Saturday Club'.”

UEL's School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies is based at the Docklands campus, and UEL is among the leading universities in the UK for research in this field. The school runs undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, Social Enterprise, International Development, Refugee Studies, History, English Literature, Cultural Studies Creative Writing, Journalism, Media and Communications, Multimedia and IT, Music and Performing Arts.

In his address to the assembled graduates, UEL Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Everett said: “Today is the culmination of a lot of hard work and personal sacrifice. Remember that this is but one stage of your education. You have a lifetime of learning ahead of you. Build on your success, seize new opportunities, and broaden your horizons.”

Valerie Mason-John is an award-winning playwright, author, and performance poet, who goes by the stage name Queenie. She is a former co-editor of Feminist Arts News, director of Pride Arts Festival, and artistic director of London Mardi Gras. Her theatre writing credits include 'Sin Dykes', 'Brown Girl in the Ring', 'The Adventures of Snow Black and Rose Red', and 'You Get Me'.

Valerie’s first novel, 'Borrowed Body' won the 2006 MIND Book of the Year Award. She has also written 'Detox Your Heart', and her sixth book, 'Broken Voices', documenting the lives of the ex-untouchable women in India, is due to be published in 2008. In 2000, Valerie won a Windrush Achievement Award for her contribution to the Black British community. Earlier this year, she received the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Arts Award.

Accepting her award of Honorary Doctor of Letters, Valerie said: “I am both delighted and overwhelmed to receive this honorary doctorate from the University of East London. It is a huge inspiration. Who would have believed 30 years ago, when I was languishing in Borstal, written off, that I would one day be standing up here?

“I believe that part of my success is due to the years of stability I had in Barnardo's children’s home at a crucial stage of my childhood, and also to the foster mother who believed in me and gave me another opportunity to complete my education. To everyone graduating today, remember to listen to your heart’s whisper and always have the courage to follow your dreams.”

Tamzin Outhwaite is a highly popular and talented actor, best known for playing Melanie Owen in the BBC soap opera ‘EastEnders’. She has since enjoyed leading roles in the BBC series ‘Red Cap’, ‘Final Demand’, and ‘Hotel Babylon’, as well as ITV’s ‘Vital Signs’, ‘Frances Tuesday’, and ‘Walk Away and I Stumble’. Stage roles have included 'Flesh Wounds' and 'Breathing Corpses' at the Royal Court, and the recent critically-acclaimed revival of ‘Boeing Boeing’ at the Comedy Theatre.

In 2002, Tamzin received a Variety award for her role in ‘Out Of Control’, which won the Edinburgh Festival award for best British film. Among other roles, she is soon to appear in Woody Allen’s forthcoming film, ‘Cassandra’s Dream’.

Accepting her award of Honorary Master of Arts, Tamzin said: “This is a huge award and I feel extremely privileged to be here today. My parents probably never thought they’d see me wearing these graduation robes!

“During my career, I’ve loved and learnt a great deal from all of my roles, but the most important thing I've learnt in life is that there’s no point striving to be a great actress if you’re not striving to be a great human being as well.”

Tamzin finished her speech by reciting Sark's famous poem 'How To Be An Artist'. She was joined at the ceremony by husband Tom Ellis, who played Dr Oliver Cousins in EastEnders, as well as her father and mother Anna, who studied creative writing at North East London Polytechnic, now UEL, in the late 1970s.

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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