Honorary
Doctorates |
Trevor Baylis received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Leeds Met
View further images of Trevor Baylis receiving his Honorary Award
Trevor Baylis, the internationally successful inventor, who was born and brought up in London, received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Leeds Met on Thursday 14 July at 10.30am.
Trevor Baylis OBE, on the conferment of the award of honorary Doctor of Engineering, said: “Thank you for presenting me with this wonderful award. I had no idea that the radio would come as it did; I just played around with a concept and idea.
“I always said that I don’t mind people looking down on me as long as they don’t expect me to look up, but I say it’s better to be looked over than overlooked.
“I would like to say to the students well done for what you have achieved, always follow your heart and remember life is not necessarily about money. Do what you adore and what you like. Chance favours the prepared mind and all you students are now fully prepared for what lies ahead.
“Thank you for making this honorary doctorate available to me and if there is any way of returning the favour I would be delighted.”
An education disrupted by the Second World War lead to Trevor failing his 11 plus exam, but at fifteen he was swimming for Great Britain, and at this time started his first job at the Soil Mechanics Laboratory in Southall, where day-release enabled him to study mechanical and structural engineering at the local technical college.
After National Service as a physical training instructor, he went into sales at Purley Pools. Here his job involved him in swimming demonstrations, which led to him becoming a professional swimmer, stuntman and entertainer. He soon founded his own aquatic display company, which today, as Shotline Steel Swimming Pools still supplies to schools.
His exposure to serious and permanent injury in the world of professional stunt-performing sparked an interest in work with disabled people. In 1985 his talent for invention emerged fully with his development of a range of products called Orange Aids, developed to support particular disabilities. Six years later, inspired by a television programme about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he set about developing the wind-up radio. His first working prototype won media attention and then commercial investment. In June 1996 the Freeplay radio was awarded the BBC Design Award for Best Product and Best Design. A year later a new-generation model of the radio went into production in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela led the acclaim. The latest version includes a solar panel and runs without assistance while the sun shines.
With the high profile that the wind-up radio gave him Trevor has undertaken extensive work in the media, with the British Council overseas, in supporting charitable causes and with higher education providers.
In June 2001 he completed a 100-mile walk across the Namib Desert to raise money for the Mines Advisory Group whilst demonstrating his new invention, the Electric Shoes, now featured in the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the most energy efficient shoe.’
He continues his tireless work to promote the concept of ‘personal power’ alongside his campaign to establish the Trevor Baylis Foundation to help all inventors.
During his career he has won many academic, professional and industry awards. Trevor Baylis received an OBE in 1997 for services to Africa.
