CAMPAIGNER Alan Bates received an Honorary Doctorate from Coventry University in recognition of his quest for justice in the Post Office scandal.
Sir Alan, received a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours earlier this year and has been the driving force behind hundreds of former postmasters and mistresses fighting to clear their names after being wrongfully convicted in the Post Office scandal.
He founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) and in 2017 more than 500 subpostmasters led by Sir Alan brought a group action in the High Court to expose the truth behind what was wrong with the Post Office’s Horizon system.
This led the criminal convictions being overturned.
The Alliance’s efforts rose to prominence when the 2024 television series Mr Bates vs The Post Office shone a spotlight on the event.
Sir Alan joined students for a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral when he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws for his outstanding resilience and commitment to pursuing justice.
He said: “Thank you very much to the university in Coventry for this very great honour they have bestowed upon me which I am pleased to accept not just on my own behalf but also on behalf of all victims that are involved in this scandal and those that are still suffering today.
“I hadn’t expected this and it was very much a surprise.
“My other half asked me ‘are you going to accept it?’ and I said ‘I think I will’ as I have turned down an awful lot of things.
“However, this isn’t about me – this is about the group, what has happened and what still needs to happen now.”
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University added: “Sir Alan has spent the last 20 years fighting one of the biggest injustices seen in this country for some time.
“He has done so tirelessly, selflessly and with no desire to take credit for himself – he has simply wanted to do the right thing for hundreds of people who had been wronged.
“He epitomises the very essence of some of the qualities we try to instill in our students; dedication, determination and passion.
“Our students should look at Sir Alan and feel inspired to achieve with the same levels of resilience, leadership and collaboration with others. We could not be prouder to bestow an Honorary Doctorate of Laws upon Sir Alan Bates.”
