Jay Blades on becoming Chancellor for Buckinghamshire University
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Jay Blades, 52, talked about the importance of supporting the younger generation, while speaking at the 2022 Pride of Britain Awards in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk. The Repair Shop star has previously opened up about his battle with dyslexia and has become a huge inspiration for people across the UK that struggle with reading.
Earlier this year, Jay announced he had been appointed the first chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University.
Asked about his new role on the red carpet, Jay said: “It feels amazing to be chancellor of my old university.
“And to hopefully support people who went through, or are going through, the same thing as me.
“My university was the one that identified my dyslexia,” he continued. “And now I’m going to be able to support and help so many other people. It’s cool, man!”
The Repair Shop star promised some “big changes” would be coming during his time in charge at Buckinghamshire New University.
Jay attended the university as a mature student studying criminology and philosophy at the age of 30.
Now, the furniture restorer will be its first chancellor – a role he accepted on the condition that the university reinstated its furniture and restoration course.
He also asked to start a scholarship programme and will sponsor several students each year.
Back in May, Jay took to Twitter to share the details of his exciting new Chancellor role in view of his 61,500 followers.
He said: “I tell you what, today is a good day,” he began. “I said to some of you (a few of you) that on Friday I got some great, great, great news… And here it is.”
“The great news is that I have become a chancellor – I know, a chancellor – of my old university in High Wycombe.
“Normally being a chancellor is left for people like Lords and Ladies, but there’s me… Being a chancellor.
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“And I said to my university…” Jay said as he came to a realisation. “They’re my university now! Cor blimey – I’m the governor there. I’m the chancellor – wow!”
He then went on to detail the changes he would be making upon becoming chancellor.
“I said to them, ‘The furniture course? You took it away. I need that reinstated with some restoration added in there for a little spice.’ And they said, ‘Cool, no problem.’
“Then I said, ‘I would love to send some people to university under my scholarship,’ and they said, ‘Cool, no problem.’
“So what they did today is they gave me the cap, they made me an honorary doctor and all systems are go.
“I believe by 2023 we should have this building built, and we’re going to be sending people to university free of charge under the Jay Blades Scholarship. Come on, if that’s not something to celebrate, talk to me. Seriously, that’s a big look!”
He went on to talk about how the outfit he was wearing was made by some of his talented friends.
“These are all people that make stuff,” he explained. “Those are the types of people that I would love to be sending to university to get out there and make a business for yourself.”
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