London’s Rose Bruford College installs leading actor Ray Fearon as its new President and awards an Honorary Fellowship to critically-acclaimed comedian, writer, actor and BAFTA winning executive producer Mo Gilligan..
Leaders and professionals from across the creative arts and higher education sectors yesterday attended the installation ceremony of award-winning stage and screen actor Ray Fearon as the new President of Rose Bruford College, the leading London specialist arts and entertainment production higher education institution.
President of Rose Bruford College, Ray Fearon:
“My love of acting started from a young age. As an aspiring actor, I toured London with a youth theatre company, before going on to study drama and then performing arts at Rose Bruford College. I know from personal experience the value and importance of having a role model and mentor who understands your journey, your aspirations and your dreams. I’m delighted to be installed as President at Rose Bruford College and I’m looking forward to championing the next generation of students as they progress through their education and on to careers in this, the most rewarding industry of the arts.”
As President of Rose Bruford College, Ray Fearon will play an ambassadorial and ceremonial role to represent the College nationally and globally and will champion careers in the creative arts to inspire the next generation of talent.
As part of the ceremony at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Lamorbey, Rose Bruford College awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Mo Gilligan, the triple BAFTA-winning mega star for his significant contribution to the creative industries.
The ceremony is historic in terms of representation, where uniquely a UK higher education institution is installing a Black President and honorary fellow alongside a Black Principal being in post.
Award-winning Mo Gilligan said: “I have always been passionate about making the arts both reflective of our community and accessible to all. I am absolutely honoured to receive the Fellowship from Rose Bruford College and I’m really touched that my work has resonated with such an outstanding institution.”
President of Rose Bruford College’s robe is the official symbol of office, following the long tradition of King’s Counsel style robes for senior academic officers. This is the inaugural year for the inclusion of the Rose Bruford College Ceremonial Mace in the ceremony, a highly ornamented staff which symbolises authority, which was designed and crafted by Alistair Angus, a Rose Bruford College graduate of Scenic Arts 2024.
Professor Randall Whittaker, Principal and CEO at Rose Bruford College;
“We are delighted to welcome Ray Fearon as our new President of the College and to award Mo Gilligan with an Honorary Fellowship. Both Londoners themselves and with stellar international careers, we know their successes will inspire our students towards new heights of achievement and innovation.
“I’m proud to lead a higher education institution that is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of arts students and graduates from diverse backgrounds by representing Black Excellence in senior roles at our College. The creative industries are at their best where representation is intentional. Representation at senior levels can be a catalyst for change across the wider industry. Today’s ceremony reaffirms our beliefs in the transformative power of education and nurturing a vibrant, inclusive community that encourages us all to be bold and embrace adventure.”
Rose Bruford College was established in 1950 by three visionary women – Rose Bruford, Edith Scorer, and Mary Henniker-Heaton – with a shared commitment to pushing boundaries and reshaping the landscape of artistic expression, today the College remains at the forefront of shaping tomorrow’s artistic expression and the performing arts sector’s positive impact on global society.
