A BUSINESSMAN near Alcester has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for services to philanthropy in higher education.

Roger Whorrod, aged 72, from Shelfield, was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire, a prize given to a person who has a major local role in any activity, in the document released on Tuesday, December 30.

Mr Whorrod, an alumnus of the University of Bath, with an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in electrical engineering, helped establish the university’s current scholarships programme and was responsible for the largest donation the institution has ever received, £1 million.

He recently funded a joint programme between the university and the Women’s Engineering Society and he has given £250,000 towards a study into the health and wellbeing of disabled people.

Mr Whorrod said: “I am delighted to receive this honour and to support the University of Bath. Having failed the 11 plus, I left school at 15 with no qualifications.

“Thereafter, I managed to collect together a number of O and A levels and win a place at the Bristol College of Advanced Technology – soon to become the new University of Bath.

“Going to university opened up a whole new world and left me with a profound belief in the power of education to change lives and the importance of universities to society.”

He added that he shares the honour with his wife, Sue, and said that he hopes raising awareness of the awards will increase the diversity of the nominations.

Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, vice-chancellor of the University of Bath, said: “Roger Whorrod richly deserves this honour. He has shown to the university and the sector philanthropy at its best.

“He takes a close personal interest in the activities which he and his wife Sue support and makes a significant wider contribution to the university.”

He joined the university's council in 2010 and gives an annual lecture in entrepreneurship to third year engineering students.

In 1980, he became an entrepreneur and in the following 25 years he set up and grew three highly successful manufacturing businesses.

Whilst in this role, he personally supervised and trained apprentices, valuing each individual and providing advice to those who encountered difficulties.