COLLEGE chiefs have apologised to Medway’s mayor with a large bouquet of flowers after she was left out in the cold at the graduation ceremony.

Cllr Val Goulden was invited by the University College of Creative Arts to be a special guest at the ceremony at Rochester Cathedral held for more than 300 students from the Rochester campus.

She was told a steward would be there to greet her, but nobody showed up.

Cllr Goulden stood outside the cathedral in full mayoral regalia for more than half an hour until she finally gave up and went home. She has described the experience as 'humiliating’.

The college said staff were waiting for her at a different entrance.

Cllr Goulden said: “It’s a huge bunch of flowers and there was card attached saying 'apologies from UCCA’ plus a phone number to call. It doesn’t alter the fact it was humiliating.”

At the ceremony itself, proud family and friends looked on as fashion, photography and design students swapped their studio clothes for mortar-boards and gowns to accept their masters, bachelor of arts and foundation degree awards in front of about 1,000 guests.

More than 50 of the students received the highest accolade – first-class honours degrees.

Special guests on the day were jewellery designer Stephen Webster and internationally acclaimed photographer Kevin Summers, who received honorary degrees for their outstanding contributions to art and design.

Rector of the university, Elaine Thomas, said: “Every one of the graduates leaving the University College for the Creative Arts has reached a high level of attainment, with the technical skills of their chosen discipline well honed and they take with them a passion for their chosen career.

“It is not just technical skill or talent that fosters inspiration and creativity, but hard work, the discipline of constant practice and reflection, and the sharing of ideas and experience.

“These are the creative values that we share as practitioners, and they are the values that bind our University College together across the diversity of its interests and its range of subject disciplines.”