SINGER Aled Jones became Bangor University's youngest ever honorary fellow yesterday and said thank you in the only way he could - with a song straight from his heart. Others similarly honoured in the past include actor Lord Richard Attenborough, Wales soccer boss Mark Hughes and opera superstar Bryn Terfel. Aled, 33, said the honour - the highest the university can give - had come out of the blue. Breaking away from tradition he set aside the usual acceptance speech and wowed an audience of 600, including students receiving degrees, with a moving rendition, to a backing track, of the Welsh classic Dafydd y Garreg Wen (David of the White Rock). He sang two verses in Welsh and one in English. "I feel totally humble. It is something I just didn't expect," said the former Bangor Cathedral choirboy, who made his first professional appearance at the university's Prichard Jones Hall, the setting for yesterday's ceremony, when he was just 10. "I was an angel in a performance of Elijah with the university orchestra. I only had a few lines to sing but I remember the hall had fantastic acoustics," he recalled.. "To be honest I didn't realise what honour I was getting until I spoke to the university the other day. I am totally gobsmacked." Aled's wife Claire, their two-year-old daughter Amelia, and parents Derek and Nest, from Llandegfan, south Anglesey, were in the audience. A former pupil of Ysgol Llandegfan and David Hughes Secondary School, Menai Bridge, Aled added: "It's weird because I didn't go to university but to the Royal Academy of Music. "I couldn't believe it. I thought I was getting an honorary degree for music. It is pretty serious stuff," said Aled, who is in the middle of recording an album. University music lecturer Wyn Thomas, who introduced Aled, said: "We were part of the beginnings of Aled Jones and we are delighted he has accepted this honour." dgreenwooddp@hotmail.com | 
