UNIVERSITY of Worcester staff are celebrating after two colleagues were honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Derek Farrell, Principal Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader for the MSc in EMDR Therapy at the University of Worcester, has been appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to Psychology.
Meanwhile Tom Taylor, Assistant Director of Security and Operations, who served in both The Royal Green Jackets and The Small Arms School Corps, has been awarded a British Empire Medal.
Dr Farrell is a leading international figure in the field of trauma therapy, and his research focusses on developing new and effective ways of reducing the harmful effects of trauma in troubled communities across the globe.
He uses a therapy known as EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing – to help people suffering the effects of trauma to revisit painful memories and neutralise some of their power to harm. His work as a researcher and leading EMDR practitioner has taken him to some of the most troubled corners of the world, from the devastation of Kashmir following the 2005 earthquake that left more than 80,000 people dead, to the refugee camps of Northern Iraq where tens of thousands of Yezidi people sought protection from the persecution of ISIS.
“I’ve heard some terrible terrible things, seen some terrible terrible things, but I’ve also met some of the world’s most remarkable people,” Dr Farrell said. “As a trauma psychologist I’ve seen huge suffering, but I’ve also seen communities coming together, and the strong helping the vulnerable to rebuild.”
Tom joined the University in 2005 to head up the newly in-sourced security team. Thanks to Tom’s inspiring and compassionate leadership this service has been transformed into being one of the central pins in the University’s student welfare provision, whilst making a major contribution to safety, security and harm reduction.
“It’s a privilege and honour to receive such an award,” he said. “Recognition for this award is just as much about the hard work and commitment of the team as it is mine. I am lucky to be surrounded by a team who are very supportive and able to respond professionally in many ways to support staff, students and visitors.”
It was Tom’s drive, values and ambition, along with close partnerships with West Mercia Police, which saw the University, in 2012, gain Community Safety Accreditation. This scheme, which is authorised under the Police Reform Act 2002, enables University security staff to undergo specialist training and assessment to earn the right to operate outside the University’s campus and to hand out Fixed Penalty Notices. Tom also led the development of the University’s CCTV systems so successfully that Worcester was the first University in the Country, and is still one of just a handful, to be accredited by the Home Office.
In addition, Pershore-based Peter Townley was awarded an MBE for his work as a trustee with Better Pathways, a charity supporting people with poor mental health, learning difficulties and with disabilities, on their pathway to recovery and well-being
