Solent university name new business and law suite after Lisa

On Tuesday November 16th at Solent University there was an official opening ceremony of the newly-refurbished business and law suite named in memory of Lisa Wilson. The area in the ‘Spark’ building was unveiled to over fifty guests, family, friends, students and university officials. Consisting of a teaching and informal area for students, this new area is now known as The Lisa Wilson Business and Law Suite.  

Kevin Rogers, director of Solent Law School, officially declared the area open for business. Afterwards he addressed the guests and thanked the Wilson family for their support for the students and the university over the last twenty years following Lisa’s tragic death in Australia.   

Clive Wilson then paid tribute to his lovely daughter who now has a lasting legacy at the university. In a moving speech he thanked his family and friends and supporters of the charity. He also paid a special tribute to his wife Trish for her amazing support throughout the years. 

With over one hundred students benefitting from bursaries provided by The Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund, he stated that having reached the age of 70 it was now time to pass the funds to the university to continue the work in Lisa’s name. 

He also paid special thanks to Geeta Uppal who has been the main liaison officer from the university over the last twenty years. Geeta closed the event with an emotional address thanking the family for the way they had turned such a tragic event into something so positive.

PICTURES to follow shortly

Lisa’s Dream event raises over £11,000

A very emotional 40th birthday party and gala dinner at Solent University raised over £11,000 for charity benefitting the Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund.

On Friday evening, one hundred and twenty special guests attended the gala dinner in honor of Lisa who would have been 40 years old on March 15th. The guests included Vice Chancellor Graham Baldwin from SolentUniversity, some of Lisa’s school, college and uni friends, plus family members and other special guests. The evening was packed with tributes and video of Lisa on her journey around the world.

A raffle auction and silent auction took place raising in excess of £11,000 for the charity. Many celebrities had donated memorabilia, including honary doctotare from the university Craig David who donated a guitar used on the making of his last album.

There was cabaret from Lucie Campbell who has previously been supported by the charity, plus Martin Murphy and his daughter Danni. Comedian and impressionist Mike Osman hosted the evening and did the second half of the show as ‘The Donald’ Trump, followed by dancing to Abba Rival to round the night off, as Lisa has always been a ‘Dancing Queen.

It was an incredible evening, and wonderful to see so many supporters of the charity.

To date we have raised over £290,000, and some ninety seven students have benefitted from the charity. As every £1000 represents a year in a student’s life, Lisa’s Legacy has now become 290 years of education.

Lisa Wilson Graduate Prize for Millie Vincent

At Southampton Solent’s Graduation Ceremony on July 11th, Millie Vincent was presented with her award for Outstanding Achievement by Clive Wilson. Millie Graduated with a BA (Hons) Media Culture and Production with First Class Honours.

At a very hot ceremony at the Guildhall Southampton, two Honorary Doctorates were also awarded; Sean Yazbeck – a former student who went onto win the ‘The Apprentice” USA and is now CEO of several technology companies in the United States – was made an Honorary Doctor of  Business, and John Wilson ACE – one of Britain’s leading well film editors who has received a Bafta for Downton Abbey and gained two HPA awards and two Emmy nominations plus many other Film and TV credits – was made a Doctor of Arts.

The Lisa Wilson Bursary Presentations November 2015

DSC04798
In November, a large number of guests attended the 13th Lisa Wilson Scholarship Bursary Award Presentations at Southampton Solent University.
Four of the six students who received the awards were on hand to be presented with their cheques by Trish and Clive Wilson (Lisa’s parents). As well as six new students, a further ten students this year receive bursaries for their continued studies. This now brings the total of students to receive support through the charity to over 90.
DSC04796
During the same week, Clive Wilson presented Heather Katy Lewis with the Lisa Wilson Award for Outstanding Achievement. Heather graduated with a BA (First Class Hons) in Popular Music Journalism.