STEPHEN SMITH: And now we come to our Honorary Award. These are awarded by the University in recognition
of somebody who has made a very significant contribution in their particular field and
I now have a pleasure in inviting Mr Russ Langley, Chief Performance Strategy and Operations Officer,
to give the commendation for the conferment of an Honorary Master of the University to Wayne Madsen.
[Applause]
RUSS LANGLEY: Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, the Mayor and Mayoress of
High Peak, honoured guests, graduands of 2020 and 2021 and all guests, it gives me great pleasure
to be presenting today Wayne Madsen for the award of Honorary Master of the University.
[Applause]
Wayne is widely considered to be one of the greatest cricketers in Derbyshire County Cricket
Club's history. He is one of the most accomplished and respected players in the English game.
Hailing from a strong cricketing family, he was born in South Africa and joined the
National Cricket Academy straight after leaving school. He made his cricketing debut in 2003.
Simultaneously, Wayne's hockey career took off and he played at an international level
for three years. He made 39 appearances for the South African men's national field hockey team
and represented South Africa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia
and the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup in Germany. Few professional sportsmen are blessed with the
option of choosing between sports but it was a decision Wayne had to make and he chose cricket.
Wayne arrived in the UK to play in the Central Lancashire League in 2007 and was surprised by
how quickly his career progressed after that. He made his debut for Derbyshire in 2009, hitting an
unbeaten 170 and smashing the previous Derbyshire record for a highest debut score. The same year he
scored 809 runs from just nine matches at an average of 58 including three centuries.
In 2012, three years after arriving at the club, he captained Derbyshire
to the County Championship Division Two title and promotion to the top division.
He was also a key factor in the club securing its first ever appearance at T20s final day in 2019.
Wayne has been an outstanding role model in the county for over a decade
and an important ambassador for the city and county, having played in global tournaments
in Abu Dhabi and Pakistan. He is an athlete with an enviable reputation for fair play
winning the MCC's Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Elite Award in 2013,
the highest accolade a cricketer can win for good sportsmanship.
He was awarded a testimonial in 2017 for his services to Derbyshire cricket
and raised over ten thousand pounds for charity during the year.
He works tirelessly in Derbyshire to promote cricket and participation in sport and provides
unwavering support for education and young people throughout the county. He joined Belper Hockey Club
in 2015 as their Director of Hockey to help expand access for young people to the sport.
Wayne has been proud to call Derbyshire his home since he joined the club in 2009.
He lives here with his wife Kyla and their two young daughters, Tana and Zara.
Over the past 13 years he has seen the city develop and strive for progress
and has made his contribution through Derbyshire County Cricket Club. He is embarking on his 14th
season with the club and is fiercely determined to add to his trophy cabinet this year.
Chancellor, in recognition of his achievements in English cricket
and his work to promote participation in sport in Derbyshire,
we are delighted to award Wayne Madsen the Honorary Degree of Master of the University.
[Applause]
WAYNE MADSEN: Tad more nerve-wracking than going out to bat.
Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice- Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff,
the Mayor and Mayoress of High Peak, honoured guests, graduands of 2020 and 2021
and all guests, I'd like to start by thanking the University of Derby for the award.
I've had an association with the University for over a decade now and I look forward to
supporting the great work that the University do for the students and for the greater community.
Having gone through what we have gone over the last couple of years,
it is an honour to be here in person to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.
As a society, we have had to adapt to new ways of thinking, of doing things
and this also opens up opportunities to advance our careers and lives.
During these times we've had time to reflect on the priorities of our lives, set new goals,
and assess what drives us in life. While thinking of a message to share with you all today,
our search for what has made me into the person standing in front of you now.
For that I have many people to thank, none more so than my parents.
They nurtured and developed my love and passion for sport and coaching
by encouraging me to participate and try in as many sports as possible.
That love and passion is what drives me to perform on the sports field and to support
and nurture others to find their sense of enjoyment in life. I feel blessed to have had
cricket, a game that I love, as a career. My kids have added to my drive and my hunger for success
in life and my focus on setting an example for the next generation of what can be achieved
through hard work and following your passion is what drives me now. To all the graduands of 2020
and 2021, congratulations on your achievements. As you move into the next chapter of your lives
I'd like to encourage you to explore your passion and drive for life. Thank you.
[Applause]