Coventry University gives paralympic gold medalist honorary doctorates

A PARALYMPIC gold medalist has received an honorary doctorate from Coventry University.

James Roberts MBE was awarded an honorary doctorate of science.

He said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, it’s a real honor, it’s something that I’d never really thought or expected, but to have this from Coventry University, who welcomed me back after I got bacterial meningitis and had basically three years out of university , is brilliant.”

James competed as part of the Paralympics GB Wheelchair Rugby Team, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for Services to Wheelchair Rugby.

After contracting bacterial meningitis in 2007, James was forced to undergo a life-changing double amputation, spending around two-and-a-half years in hospital.

Taking inspiration from Team GB at the 2012 Paralympic Games and supported by Coventry University’s Sports Scholarship Programme, James worked extremely hard to get into the Team GB wheelchair rugby development squad.

James added: “The whole university looks really good, you can see a lot of investment has gone in and I’ve had a great welcome here today.

“Coventry University has given me that absolute grounding in architectural design technology, I was lucky enough to get a placement here that was supported by the university.

“I’ve gone on to become a chartered architectural technologist and now a passive house designer as well.”