As part of a celebration of the achievements of more than 1,400 graduating students, six honorary graduates have been recognised at the University of Bath’s winter graduation ceremonies, held at Bath Abbey across eight ceremonies from Tuesday 20 January to Thursday 22 January.

This six were recognised for exceptional contributions to public life, sport, health, engineering, and social impact:

Alex Lewis - Doctor of Engineering honoris causa

Alex Lewis was recognised for his global advocacy for equality and accessibility in assistive technology, his inspiring resilience and courage and his contribution to research innovation at Bath.

Following the amputation of all four limbs after severe illness, and sustaining significant facial disfigurement, Alex has become a leading international voice for making assistive technology affordable and accessible, empowering people with disabilities to live more independent lives.

Co-founder of the FLOAT Foundation, supporting innovation and access to assistive technologies worldwide, Alex has collaborated extensively with researchers at the University of Bath across engineering, biomechanics and health, contributing lived experience to research that improves real-world outcomes.

He is also an extraordinary adventurer, becoming the first quadruple amputee to kayak around southern Greenland, alongside a series of other pioneering expeditions that challenge perceptions of disability.

Maggie Alphonsi MBE - Doctor of Health honoris causa

Maggie Alphonsi MBE was recognised for her outstanding contribution to rugby and to advancing equality in sport.

Across an illustrious eleven-year international rugby union career, Maggie helped England to secure a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations titles between 2006 and 2012, and was a key figure in England’s Rugby World Cup victory in 2014, a landmark triumph that ended a 20-year wait and cemented the growing global stature of the women’s game.

Since retiring from professional rugby, Maggie has continued to break barriers. The first former female player to commentate on men’s international rugby and the first England Women’s player elected to the Rugby Football Union Council, she has consistently used her platform to grow participation, champion equity, and inspire the next generation.

Simon Boas – Posthumous Doctor of Health honoris causa

Simon Boas was recognised posthumously for his profound contribution to public understanding of death, dying, and global development.

The author of the Sunday Times bestselling book A Beginner’s Guide to Dying, which he completed just two weeks before his death from throat cancer in 2023, aged 46, Simon is an alumnus of the University of Bath’s Department of Social & Policy Sciences, where he completed a Master’s degree in International Policy Analysis in 2008.

Simon spent his career working for development charities and the UN, including three years running a UN office in the Gaza Strip. He spent his last eight years living in Jersey, running the Island’s Overseas Aid agency.

Professor Kate Woodthorpe, co-Director of the University’s Centre for Death and Society presented the degree to his sister, Julia Boas.

Kate said: “I've never come across such an engaging and funny book about dying, and for that I am very grateful; death will come to us all and I think Simon's perspective on it, that both recognises the gravitas of the moment but also the absurdity in life, is so refreshing.

“I am delighted that the University is honouring Simon with a posthumous honorary doctorate, to acknowledge his impact and influence, and his potential.”

Jenni Thomas OBE - Doctor of Health honoris causa

Jenni Thomas OBE was recognised for her pioneering work as one of the UK’s leading authorities on grief support and education in relation to child death or bereavement.

Born during the Second World War Jenni began her career in the NHS in the 1960s, a time where healthcare professionals did not receive formal training to help grieving parents. She devised a training programme to educate professionals in loss and grief, becoming the first Bereavement Counsellor for the NHS in the 1970s.

Having established The Child Bereavement Trust (now CBTUK) in 1994 she has continued to work within the NHS and to support charities, notably the Ruth Strauss Foundation.

Last year, Jenni published her first book specifically for bereaved parents entitled ‘After a child dies - parents’ grief’, to more widely offer the comfort and courage which has meant so much to the families that she has worked with directly.

Andreas Wasmuht - Doctor of Letters honoris causa

Andreas Wasmuht was recognised for his contributions to civic learning, strengthening Bath’s enduring cultural heritage, and for his dedication to intellectual enrichment as a force for public good.

Andreas has helped to renew the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution’s (BRLSI) role as a contemporary centre for critical thought, by for over a decade shaping a programme that brings scholars, practitioners and citizens together to explore questions that define our age: from democracy and ethics to the future of work and technology.

As a regularly featured speaker at the University, he connects scholarship with civic life, exemplifying reflective leadership that unites insight with action, learning with service and intellect with integrity.

Chris Watt – Doctor of Science honoris causa

Chris Watt was recognised for his extraordinary achievements towards business, innovation and civic service.

Co-founder of Pharmaxo Ltd, Chris took what began as a small teaching unit in the University’s Department of Pharmacy into one of the largest independent aseptic compounding units in Europe, employing around 450 full-time staff locally, and preparing life changing medicines for over 200,000 NHS patients every year. Through long-standing partnership with researchers at the University, Chris has helped Pharmaxo become a world leader in understanding the stability of ready-to-use antibody medicines.

Chris has also served the local community for over two decades, as an elected member of the Bath & North East Somerset Council, and as a founding director of the community radio station Somer Valley FM.