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Doreen Lawrence honoured by UEL

Thursday 29 November 2012

Doreen Lawrence

Doreen Lawrence was today awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of East London (UEL) at the North Greenwich Arena in London.

Doreen Lawrence OBE was born in Jamaica in 1952, and emigrated to England aged nine. She came to public attention in 1993 after her son Stephen was murdered in a racist attack. She has campaigned tirelessly over nearly two decades to ensure that he was not forgotten by the system that initially failed to bring his killers to justice, and that other families did not have to face the same horrors. Her campaign kept a spotlight on the police and led to the Macpherson report and its associated reforms.

In 1998, Doreen and her then husband, Neville, who is also a UEL honorary graduate, founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. This assists young people like Stephen to move on in education and careers, particular in architecture. UEL students have directly benefited from their bursaries and from the use of the Stephen Lawrence Centre.

UEL today recognises Doreen with an Honorary Doctorate of Education for her dual campaigns following Stephen’s death. Her campaign for justice brought about much-needed reforms in the criminal justice system, and shone attention on institutional racism in the police service.

Doreen said: “It is both a pleasure and an honour to receive this Doctorate of Education from the University of East London. This is recognition of all the work our trust has done in helping young people achieve their dreams and ambitions. We have already supported over 100 students – eight of whom who have gone on to successful careers in architecture.

“However, we want to look at how we can support people in other professions, such as journalism and law. I would like to wish the UEL students here today good luck and I wish them the very best for the future.”

UEL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee, said: “The University of East London is extremely proud to honour one of London’s most revered campaigners with this honorary award.  As a university, we have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Centre, which has helped benefit the lives of many of our students here at UEL.

“Doreen Lawrence’s tireless efforts to deliver sweeping reforms to the Metropolitan Police Service and criminal justice system in the face of great adversity - and in the wake of her own personal grief - are a shining example to us all.”

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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