THOUSANDS of proud students are to receive degrees during three days of celebrations at The University of Bolton.

It is the first time the university’s pomp-filled degree ceremonies have been held over three days, reflecting its growth.

By the end of Friday, degrees will have been conferred to 2,762 students.

Joining students yesterday were actor and award-winning playwright Ayub Khan-Din, Bolton-born Aaqil Ahmed, who is the head of religion and ethics production at the BBC, and Ann Johnson, a leading campaigner for dementia awareness.

All three received honorary doctorates in recognition of their work.

Mr Khan-Din, the writer behind hit movie East is East and Rafta Rafta, which was recently performed at The Octagon, said: “I want to thank the University of Bolton for this wonderful honour. It means a great deal to me to receive this award from this university.

“I’m not from Bolton myself, but it had a huge influence on me as a writer because of Bill Naughton. Rafta Rafta was also shown here.”

Mr Khan-Din said receiving the award at a university in a town which celebrates diversity made the honour extra special.

He added: “But one has to get involved in Bolton, and that is important.”

Mr Ahmed said: “I am very fortunate to have won awards for my programme, but this is an honour on a personal level.

“It might sound like a cliche, but to be honoured by your home town is so special. I want the young people to realise they can make it happen.”

And Ms Johnson, who studied teaching at the university when it was an institute, said: “I want people through this honour, the young people who are graduating, to understand dementia and not to be scared of it.”

Student success stories included Shauni Maple, aged 21, who has become the first female to graduate from the university’s games design degree — and received a first class honours degree.

She said: “It's always been a huge passion of mine. I’ve been gaming for years, for as long as I can remember really.

“As I got older I remember thinking ‘I can really make a living out of this.’ “Since then it is all I have ever wanted to do — have a job I love in the industry I’m passionate about.”

Miss Maple’s advice for other potential female game designers is: “Just do it. It really is that simple. If you enjoy something and are lucky enough and good enough to make a career out of it, that’s the important thing.”

Aimee Coffey, aged 21, also graduated with a first class honours in textile and surface design thanks to her Moroccan inspired Tuk Tuk, an auto-rickshaw, and Chaotic Glamour design collection which was shown at the New Designers Exhibition in London.

Miss Coffey said: “The reaction to the Tuk Tuk was a lot of smiles and pointing — but there was also a lot of more serious interest from professional designers, independent journalists and even the event organisers themselves.”

She said: “I enjoyed the freedom of the course in terms of being able to come up with my own project brief and that meant I was able to be very creative throughout.”

Three photography graduates are now going into business together.

One of them, Emma Prothero, aged 21, from Bolton, said: “I’m so excited and relieved to be graduating.

“It is a great course and now three of us are setting up a business in Manchester called Jellywish Studios, specialising in all areas of photography.”

Catholic priest Father Joseph Borg, an acclaimed journalist and writer, travelled from Malta to become a doctor of philosophy after doing his doctoral dissertation on the Maltese media.

He dedicated his dissertation to the memory of his parents, Joseph and Paula, saying: “If my dissertation made them proud, then I am proud.”

Vice-Chancellor Dr George Holmes, describing graduation ceremonies as a rite of passage, said: “For the first time we have degree ceremonies over three days which reflects the town’s standing and that of the university.”