Honorary degree 'dream come true' for conservationist

A man who set up a wildlife conservation charity has said being given an honorary degree is the "highlight" of his year.

Tullis Matson is among a cohort of seven people to be given the award by Shropshire's Harper Adams University as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations.

Comedian Ed Byrne and The Archers actress Felicity Finch are part of the group receiving their degrees this month.

Matson said he was particularly thrilled with the award marking his achievements as he is "very dyslexic" and "left school with no qualifications".

Matson, who is from Whitchurch, runs Nature's SAFE, a charity that has been freezing cells from some of the world's most endangered animals.

He also founded and leads Stallion Artificial Insemination Services, a world-leading company that specialises in cryopreservation technology.

Matson's work in conservation sees cells from 200 endangered species, ranging from African elephants to Scotland's wildcats, being frozen in liquid nitrogen at –196°C to create a cryogenic "time capsule".

Nature's SAFE, described as a "bio bank", has now stored biological samples from 400 species, some of which are critically endangered or extinct in the wild.

The aim is to save animals from extinction by protecting the genetic diversity of species and using technologies such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation to keep healthy animal populations going.

"To be recognised with something you really believe in in the conservation world, using science and technology to try and help [...], it doesn't get any better," Matson said.

"It re-emphasises that the work we're doing is the right thing," he added; "We've worked so hard, everybody has, for years to really push the boundaries of science to make a difference."

Matson left school at 16 years old with "no qualifications," he explained, adding that his dyslexia left him "struggling to read and write".

He added that at school he was told he "was going to be failure" and was afraid he "wouldn't get anywhere."

The graduation ceremony on 16 September will see Matson give a speech to the students graduating alongside him.