TWO Gwent fashion designers and an award-winning filmmaker received honorary fellowships from the University of Wales, Newport, yesterday.

Husband and wife fashion designers Charles and Patricia Lester, from Abergavenny, were honoured for their support of the university and for the many work placements they have provided for students.

The designers have developed an international reputation from their studio in Abergavenny, particularly in the use of hand-dyed and printed fabrics.

The couple attended the ceremony with their daughters Anouska and Georgina.

Mr Lester said: “We chose to live in Wales and have never regretted it, as it has always been good to us. To be awarded with honorary fellowships is greatly appreciated by both of us and is another memorable milestone in a long relationship with the university.”

Documentary filmmaker Colin Thomas also received an honourary fellowship from the university yesterday, for his commitment and support to the area and the university.

Mr Thomas is one of Wales’ most important documentary filmmakers and is a regular guest lecturer at the university.

He said: “As a documentary director, I feel proud to be receiving an honorary fellowship from a university whose film school has rightly won considerable respect.

“It would be understandable if graduating students feel pessimistic about job prospects and the state of the economy at the moment, but having had the opportunity to film around the world – notably in South Africa and the former Soviet Union – I’m conscious that an apparently permanent state of affairs can change almost overnight.”

Former Wales rugby player and Newport adventurer Richard Parks will be honoured today, while West End and Broadway star Caroline Sheen and former university chaplain Father Mark Soady will be honoured tomorrow.

The six honourary fellows will be receiving their titles alongside 1,664 students who are graduating from the university over the three days.