A mother-and-son duo who use farming to help young people develop, a former Mayor and the chair of a Bath-based engineering and property group were all recognised for their contributions to the Bath area in the University’s recent President’s Awards.
Introduced in 2023, the awards honour individuals who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the University, the city of Bath or region. The awards were handed out by the University's Chancellor, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
The winners were:
Jamie and Tish Feilden
Mother and son, Tish and Jamie Feilden, are the co-founders of Jamie’s Farm. Jamie’s Farm is a charity that offers five-day residential programmes with a unique blend of farming, family and therapy, designed to equip young people with the skills and abilities to thrive academically, socially and emotionally during their school years and beyond. To date, Jamie’s Farm has positively impacted the lives of over 13,000 vulnerable young people.
Jamie manages the farming, fundraising and finance functions of the charity. Under his leadership, the charity has grown into a nationally significant organisation, with farms in six locations.
A University of Bath alumna, Tish leads the therapeutic approach for the charity, supporting their Therapy Coordinators and training delivery staff as well as sharing their approaches with other professionals.
Through their innovative programmes, Jamie and Tish impact the lives of young people, fostering resilience, determination, inclusivity and learning. By providing transformative experiences on their farms, they inspire individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Jamie and Tish have made a sustained and distinctive contribution to the community, in ways which align directly with the University's values of equality, diversity, and inclusivity. Tish and Jamie’s work now extends beyond the local region, making a significant impact nationally and internationally.
Marian McNeir
Marian McNeir has held a series of senior positions in local government. She was Mayor of Bath from 2000-2001 and served on the Council of the University of Bristol for four years, as well as on the University of Bath’s Council for nearly 10 years. She has taken a leading role in a variety of local organisations including the Holburne Museum, Arts Council for the South West, the Silver Ring Choir, Bridge Care, the Victoria Art Gallery and the Theatre Royal.
She received a Chancellor’s Medal from the University in 2009 for her work in fostering closer relations between the University and the city but has continued to give her time generously over the last 15 years. She was involved in fundraising for The Edge Arts Complex which was formally opened by the Chancellor in 2015 and is now a student-led facility providing high-quality and far-ranging extra-curricular activities.
Marian served as an Independent Trustee of the University of Bath Students’ Union from June 2017 to June 2023.
Marian has made an exceptional contribution to the University and the Students’ Union and has had a major impact on the civic, political and cultural life in our city.
Iestyn Lewis
Iestyn is Chair of the Iesis Group, a locally based but nationally and internationally renowned group of companies involved in civil engineering and property development. He studied Building Engineering at the University from 1990-95. During that time, he was the recipient of a University Sports Scholarship and played 42 first team Games for Bath Rugby.
He has been passionate about giving back and seeing the University thrive, particularly through his support of sport and engineering across more than two decades. Through his successful business ventures, he has made a significant contribution to the local economy, providing employment opportunities – not least for University of Bath graduates – and supporting many charitable causes. Last year Iestyn completed a skydive over Everest and raised over £29,000 for the Bath Rugby Foundation.
Iestyn has enabled students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, to reach their potential. One of these, Lyson Zulu, came from Zambia to study in the UK with Iestyn’s help and is now the technical director at the Football Association of Zambia, managing the Zambia women’s team at last year’s World Cup.
Iestyn has made a sustained contribution to the University, the city and the region as a successful businessman, philanthropist and mentor. He is an excellent ambassador for the University, as a successful alumnus and supporter, but also a strong advocate for Bath and the region.