Alan Henning, the international aid volunteer who was killed while providing humanitarian relief in Syria is to be honoured with a posthumous Doctorate from the University of Salford later today (Monday 13 July).
Alan, a former taxi driver, was a proud son of Eccles and Salford.
He had travelled to Syria to act as an ambulance driver for ‘Rochdale Aid 4 Syria’, a group which raised money on behalf of Al-Fatiha Global, a British-based organisation which provides humanitarian aid to those caught up in warzones.
In December 2013 Alan was captured and later killed during the ISIS occupation of the Syrian city of Al-Dana. The demand that he be released came from all sectors of the community and all were outraged by this act of inhumanity.
Those who knew Alan describe him as a kind, caring and selfless man. Following his death, a public outpouring led to Salfordonline.com and Salford City Council collaborating to set up a memorial fund in Alan’s honour. All funds from this have gone towards providing financial support for Alan and Barbara’s children.
In recognition of the selfless relief work that Alan dedicated himself to the University of Salford has honoured Alan with a posthumous Doctorate of the University. This award will be collected by his children, Lucy and Adam.
Alan Henning’s wife, Barbara said: “On behalf of the family I would like to thank the University of Salford for honouring Alan in this way. We are extremely proud of him and hope that he will always be remembered as the kind, caring person he was, who made a decision to go and help those less fortunate, and whose life was taken because of that decision.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff and students at the University. Their compassion and support at the time of Alan’s death was a great comfort to the family.”
University of Salford Vice Chancellor, Professor Helen Marshall added: “The values that Alan stood for and embodied, in his efforts to help the world’s most vulnerable people, are the values of Salford and of our University. Today we celebrate Alan’s work, he will be remembered with pride by all Salfordians.”
