Honorary Fellowship presented to Manon Steffan Ros

Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE, Deputy Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presenting Manon Steffan Ros as an Honorary Fellow

Award-winning author, columnist and scriptwriter, Manon Steffan Ros, has been presented with a Fellowship of Aberystwyth University.

Her work has won several prizes, including Llyfr y Flwyddyn, the Tir Na N’Og prize, the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod, and the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing.

Manon Steffan Ros was presented as Honorary Fellow by Mererid Hopwood, Professor of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University, on Wednesday 17 July 2024.

A translation of the full conferral presentation, which was delivered in Welsh, is available below:

Manon Steffan Ros with Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE

Presentation of Manon Steffan Ros by Professor Mererid Hopwood:

Graduates, today is of course a special day. A day to remember. You will be leaving with the souvenir pictures of yourselves in somewhat curious clothing, holding a certificate that is both a recognition of the door closed on the hard work behind you and a key to the new doors of your future. But in the photograph stored on your (real) memory, what a privilege it will be to look back at today knowing that you have shared this stage with someone as exceptional as our new Fellow: Manon Steffan Ros.

To anyone who loves language, literature, music, film, drama, theatre – and humankind – here is a woman who has used her outstanding creative talents to open our eyes and view each of these in a different light.

She has been awarded many prizes for her creations: The National Eisteddfod Medal for Drama – twice, the National Eisteddfod Prose Medal; Book of the Year; Gwobr Tir na n’Og, … and amongst the recent prizes, the Yoto Carnegie Medal – an international recognition for her own translation of her novel Llyfr Glas Nebo: The Blue Book of Nebo.  This was the first time ever for this prestigious panel to place a work in translation in first position. Quite an achievement!

In accepting the prize, Manon noted that one of the greatest privileges of her life has been the fact that she was given two languages and how this has brought her so much joy and so many opportunities.

If you haven’t yet, during your time with us in Aberystwyth, for whatever reason, managed to learn Welsh, then let Manon’s words in her acceptance speech for the Carnegie Medal inspire you to seek out those opportunities: ‘There’s a huge, lively, thriving Welsh language cultural scene that I’m honoured to be a part of.’ Then, referring to her prize-winning translation, she declared: ‘I can confidently tell you that this book is the tiniest speck on the very tip of a massive iceberg of Welsh language literature that you would love.’

She then went on to explain how each language offers a unique and enriching our perspective of the world, and how literature in translation has the potential to enhance our lives greatly.

Manon Steffan Ros

It’s certainly fact, Manon, that you have greatly enriched our lives through your gift with words in whatever medium or genre. Your works are an inspiration to our students – the dialogue, the tempo, the story arc, the characters, the tension, the drama, the lyricism, … and your weekly column in Golwg is an outstanding example to anyone who wants to learn the craft of conciseness.

During election week, as you gave over the column inches to the voice of a young woman without enough money to pay her rent you said this: ‘we count, but we’re not always counted’.

This is an important lesson – for us all – and, Graduates, as you set out on your journeys from this place, remember Manon’s words: everyone counts.

It is without a doubt our pleasure today, Manon, to be able to count you as one of our number.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2024

Each year, Aberystwyth University confers Honorary Awards on a small number of distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievement and contribution.

The 2024 Honorary Fellows are:

• Professor Sir Stewart Cole KCMG FRS, internationally renowned microbiologist working in global health
• Jess Fishlock MBE, professional footballer and coach, who has won 150 international caps for Wales
• Clare Hieatt, co-founder of globally acclaimed ideas festival The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim Co
• David Hieatt, co-founder of Cardigan-based jeans company Hiut Denim Co and The Do Lectures
• Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE FLSW FRSA, Founder and Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru
• Dr Anna Persaud, CEO and Founder of luxury British skincare and wellness brand, This Works
• Manon Steffan Ros, award-winning author, columnist and scriptwriter

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