Wildlife television presenter Iolo Williams honoured as Fellow

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presents Iolo Williams as Fellow

Wildlife television presenter and naturalist, Iolo Williams, has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Raised in Llanwddyn in north Powys, Iolo obtained a degree in ecology at the North East London Polytechnic before working for the RSPB as Species Officer, where his roles included monitoring scarce birds and investigating crimes against wild birds.

After 15 years with the RSPB, Iolo began presenting wildlife television programmes and has since developed a successful career as a nature presenter in both English and Welsh.

Iolo has presented more than 20 series from across the world for both the BBC and S4C, including the well-known Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.

Iolo Williams was presented as Fellow on Friday 17 July by Dr Hywel Griffiths, Lecturer in Physical Geography.

Presentation of Iolo Williams as Fellow

Canghellor, Is-Ganghellor, darpar raddedigion, gyfeillion.  Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Mr Iolo Williams yn gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Mr Iolo Williams as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Fel yn achos ffigurau amlwg eraill y Gymru Gymraeg, dim ond enw cyntaf Iolo sydd ei angen. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod pwy yw ‘Iolo’. Yn aml iawn gyda dim mwy na phâr o siorts a binociwlars, mae Iolo wedi ein tywys ar hyd llwybrau natur ar radio a theledu ers dros ugain mlynedd.

As is the custom in Wales with eminent cultural figures, no surname is necessary this afternoon. All of us here know who ‘Iolo’ is. Often armed with little more than a pair of shorts and binoculars, he has led us through the natural world on radio and television for over twenty years.

Magwyd Iolo yn Llanwddyn, yng nghanol mwynder Maldwyn. Ar ôl ennill gradd mewn ecoleg bu’n gweithio fel coedwr, ac ar fferm fynydd, cyn gweithio fel Swyddog Rhywogaethau i’r Gymdeithas er Gwarchod Adar. Fel cyflwynydd rhaglenni yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg ar S4C a’r BBC, ac fel awdur, mae ehangder a dyfnder ei brofiad o weithio ar lawr gwlad yn amlwg. Mae ganddo wybodaeth wyddoniadurol o fywyd gwyllt, ac mae’r enwau gwyddonol, Cymraeg a Saesneg am adar, anifeiliaid, trychfilod a phlanhigion ar flaen ei dafod ac yn cael eu hadrodd yn acen hyfryd y Canolbarth.

Iolo’s roots are in Llanwddyn in north Powys. After graduating in ecology he worked as a forester, a hill farmer, and then as Species Officer for the RSPB. As a broadcaster on S4C and the BBC, and as an author, the breadth and depth of the experience gained in working on the ground shines throughout his work. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of wildlife, the scientific, Welsh and English names for all manner of birds, bugs and beasts rolling off his tongue in his rich Montgomeryshire accent.

Teg dweud nad oes unrhyw un yn y cyfnod diweddar wedi gwneud mwy i hyrwyddo dealltwriaeth, mwynhad a pharch o fywyd gwyllt Cymru a’r byd ymysg trigolion y wlad yma na Iolo. Trwy gyfrwng rhaglenni poblogaidd fel Natur Gudd Cymru, Gwyllt a Crwydro mae wedi dyfnhau gwybodaeth y Cymry o’u hamgylchedd, o dirwedd a bywyd gwyllt unigryw Cymru, a thrwy ei frwdfrydedd heintus, didwyll nodweddiadol mae wedi codi ymwybyddiaeth ohonynt ymhell y tu hwnt i’w ffiniau hefyd. Rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn iddo am y gwaith pwysig hynny, ac yn cydnabod ei waith fel esiampl arbennig i raddedigion Prifysgol Aberystwyth eleni.

No one has done more in recent years to promote understanding, enjoyment and respect of nature and the environment to Welsh audiences than Iolo. Through programmes such as Wild Wales, Iolo’s Welsh Safari and Springwatch he has deepened Welsh citizens’ understanding of their environment, of the country’s unique landscape and wildlife, and through his characteristic enthusiasm has raised awareness of them well beyond Wales’s borders. We are grateful to him for that important work, and we recognise his excellent example for the graduates of Aberystwyth University this year.

Canghellor, mae’n bleser gen i gyflwyno Mr Iolo Williams i chi yn Gymrawd. 

Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Mr Iolo Williams to you as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2015

Twelve individuals are being honoured by Aberystwyth University during the 2015 graduation ceremonies, which take place at the University’s Arts Centre from Tuesday 14 July until Friday 17 July.

Eight Honorary Fellowships will be presented to individuals who have, or have had a connection with Aberystwyth or Wales, and who have made an outstanding contribution to their chosen field.

Two Honorary Doctorate degrees will be presented to individuals who have been outstandingly successful in their field, or who have a long record of renowned research and publication.

Two Honorary Bachelor degrees will be presented to individuals who are members of Aberystwyth University staff without an entry-level degree in recognition of long-service, contribution and dedication to the Institution; and members of the local community who have made a significant contribution to Aberystwyth and the area.

Also being honoured are:

Honorary Fellowships:

•        Eurwen Richards, former President of the Society of Dairy Technology and first female Cheese Master in the UK.

•        Professor Robin Williams CBE, researcher in semiconductor physics, Fellow of the Royal Society and former Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University.

•        Professor Miguel Alario-Franco, researcher in solid state chemistry and former President of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain.

•        Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and the Wales Office and an alumnus of Aberystwyth University.

•        Debbie Moon, BAFTA award-winning creator and writer of the television series WolfBlood, contributor to the Hinterland television series and an alumnus of Aberystwyth University.

•        Dr Francesca Rhydderch, Award-winning novelist, former editor of New Welsh Review and Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Swansea University.

•        Dr Lyn Evans, researcher in high energy physics and leader of the team that designed, built and commissioned the Large Hadron Collider.

Honorary Doctorate Degrees:

•        Dylan Iorwerth, award-winning poet and author, radio and television presenter, founder and Directing Editor of Golwg Cyf and an alumnus of Aberystwyth University.

•        Professor Huw Cathan Davies OBE, Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, former National Academy of Science Researcher at NASA Institute in Virginia and an alumnus of Aberystwyth University.

Honorary Bachelor Degrees:

•        Bryn Jones, co-ordinator of the Penparcau Community forum and founding member of local arts and healthcare group ‘HAUL’.

•        Rhian Phillips, former Head teacher of Plascrug Primary School and International Schools Learning ambassador for Wales.

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