A top university honour is to be given to a “courageous” man raising awareness of dementia – despite his own personal battle against the condition.

Today will see 71-year-old Trevor Jarvis receive an honorary degree from the University of Bradford where he teaches.

Since he was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2001 he has tirelessly campaigned on behalf of those with dementia across the nation.

The former health and safety officer is an ambassador for a number of mental health charities including the Alzheimer’s Society and is involved with the Dementia Friendly Communities Champion Group by making the day-to-day difficulties of living with dementia more widely known by the public.

And he works in the University’s division of dementia studies teaching and assessing a module in dementia training as a way of preparing the next generation of health workers to deal with the challenges posed by the condition.

Course leader for MSc dementia studies Dr Andrea Capstick said Mr Jarvis, who lives in Doncaster, has “an immense fund of wisdom to share about his experiences of dementia, his encounters with health service professionals and the strategies he has developed for living well in spite of his diagnosis”.

She said: “In professional life Trevor was a health and safety officer and he brings the same humour and concern for the well-being of others to his dementia campaigning as he did to his former career.”

“We see Trevor as a full member of the teaching team. He contributes to a light-hearted and supportive teaching environment, whilst simultaneously pressing home the message that people with dementia should be at the heart of everything we do.”

Three other honorary degrees are being bestowed by the university this week.

Roger Mosey will be made a Doctor of the University for his contribution to broadcasting. Bradford-educated Mr Mosey, the BBC’s editorial director, will next month bring to an end an a long career with the broadcaster which he began in 1980 as a regional BBC radio presenter.

David Richardson is to be made a Doctor of the University for his role in supporting community cohesion and regeneration in Bradford.

As chairman of Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Richardson has overseen the development of education and research facilities within Bradford, to create a national centre of excellence for medical education and applied health research.

As the city’s senior policeman at the time of the 2001 riots, he was responsible for maintaining order and leading the operational and media response.

Maqsood Sheikh will be made a Doctor of Letters for his contribution to modern Urdu literature. He is a renowned short-story writer and has played a prominent role in the development of community cohesion in Bradford.