DELIGHTED students from University Centre Colchester proudly received their awards in front of family and friends as they graduated at Colchester Town Hall.

This year’s event saw the class of 2022 graduating across three ceremonies in the Moot Hall followed by a reception at the Minories Art Gallery.

The graduation ceremonies celebrated the hard work and dedication students had shown throughout their degree courses.

University Centre Colchester is the degree provision at Colchester Institute’s Sheepen Road campus.

More than 200 students took to the stage to collect their awards and graduate, including the first graduates from the degree in Policing Practice.

The BA (Hons) Policing Practice started in 2019 in response to the announcement by the governing body of the Police Service, the College of Policing, that by 2020 all new police officers would require a relevant degree.

The programme offers students an opportunity to gain a critical understanding of policing and its historical, social, economic and political contexts.

Graduating students were handed their awards in the ceremonies by guest speakers George Kieffer and Steve Mannix.

Mr Kieffer, whose background includes high-level management positions in Europe for SEGA, and Mr Mannix, executive director of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, delivered inspirational speeches to the graduates.

In addition to their certificates, five individuals from University Centre Colchester’s three academic schools received an award to recognise their achievements and commitment during their studies.

The recipients of these awards were Caroline Ede, Alexander Atkinson, Lucy Broad, Ashley Phillips and Hollie Jamison.

Alongside the graduating students, former chief executive at Colchester Council, Adrian Pritchard, received an honorary doctorate of letters in recognition for his services to local government and the borough of Colchester.

Mr Pritchard retired in March after being chief executive for more than 17 years.

He has been in local government for more than 48 years and joined Colchester Council in 2001 before becoming chief executive three years later.

Mr Pritchard was instrumental in submitting the successful bid for city status, which was bestowed on Colchester by the late Queen