University News Last updated 19 October 2019
Visitors to Birmingham City University’s Open Day were given a surprise welcome as Chancellor Sir Lenny Henry traded selfies for service to sign in prospective students and their families.
The Actor, writer, comedian and charitable campaigner was at the Open Day to meet with newcomers exploring the University, and talk to young people about their plans to enter higher education.
The Dudley-born star, took his place on the check-in desk equipped with an iPad, tote bags, programmes and his best anecdotes to give a unique hello to shocked attendees.
Sir Lenny also gave a face-to-face welcome to hundreds of families in a packed auditorium, to talk about his role as Chancellor at Birmingham City University, the importance of education and his personal journey.
Speaking at the University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sir Lenny said that higher education should be accessible to all, and talked of its transformative impact on his life.
He said: “It took me a while to get around to it myself, about forty years, but whatever your age, background or circumstances going to university can be the best thing you will ever, ever do.
“Make sure you talk to the fantastic staff and students around who can answer some of the thousands of questions you will doubtless have about our University, about the great City of Birmingham - almost as incredible as Dudley- , and about taking that exciting step into higher education.”
During the day, Sir Lenny also provided fans with an exclusive sneak preview of his forthcoming book tour and signed copies of his memoir ‘Who Am I, Again?’.
The book, which charts his early years and subsequent rise to fame, is the centrepiece of a tour which begins at Birmingham’s Hippodrome.
Sir Lenny also spent time meeting with students and academics from the University’s Black Studies course, created his own comic and tested some of the institution’s state-of-the-art sports equipment.