Honorary graduates

2011

Jenny Farr MBE JP DL

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her significant contribution to the life, welfare and ambitions of this University, Nottinghamshire and the whole of the regional and national life, which she has so significantly affected.

Jenny Farr

Born in London, Jenny Farr moved to Nottingham and attended the Nottingham Girls' High School, before studying physiotherapy in London and Newcastle Upon Tyne. Some of her time there was spent helping injured minors rehabilitate themselves after accidents down the pit. In this, she showed her innovative skills by having pitmen practice crawling under tables, in readiness for working in the narrow seams of the North East. Later she came back to Nottingham to work at the City Hospital, being actively involved particularly with children suffering from Poliomyelitis.

Her interest in children caused her to devote huge amounts of her formidable energy to the benefit of the NSPCC. In 1984, in their centenary year, an appeal was launched for £12 million nationally, intended to create 60 child protection teams, to bring all the NSPCC services and expertise together. Within Nottinghamshire, Jenny Farr led the committee, which raised £200,000 and enabled the NSPCC to purchase a property in Nottingham for a new centre which was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret in 1985. She served as a Magistrate, from 1979, helping other NSPCC Districts with ideas for their own fundraising efforts, becoming Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire in 1993, High Sheriff of the County in 1998 and Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County from 1999 to 2008. In 2008, Jenny joined Nottingham Trent University's Development Board to help raise money towards the redevelopment of the Newton and Arkwright Project. She became an active and vital member of the board.

Jenny Farr is someone who contributes grace and charm to anything in which she is involved, as well as unbelievable energy and ideas which are both imaginative and beneficial wherever they are placed.