Couple honoured for wine and community work

23 hours ago

Tanya GuptaSouth East

News image — Sarah and Mark Driver established the vineyard in 2010

University of Brighton Sarah and Mark Driver are walking with their dog between rows of vines on their wine estate in Sussex. The vines are seen in the autumn, when the leaves are turning yellow/brown, and the couple are wearing outdoor jackets and coats. — Sarah and Mark Driver established the vineyard in 2010

A couple who founded a family-run vineyard in the South Downs are to receive honorary doctorates from the University of Brighton.

Sarah and Mark Driver established the Rathfinny Wine Estate in 2010 on an arable farm near Polegate, now known for its sparkling wines served in hotels and restaurants around the world.

As parents of four children, three of whom are dyslexic, they also set up the Driver Youth Trust (DYT), a charity supporting young people with literacy difficulties.

The pair said they were both "honoured and thrilled" at the awards, adding: "Being our local university makes it even more special as it links to our close collaboration with our community."

'Work can transform lives'

The couple have written about their journey into winemaking, which began when Mark Driver discovered a course at Plumpton College while researching university options for one of their children.

Further digging revealed the potential for producing sparkling wines in Sussex, prompting him to enrol.

Sarah Driver described a 2012 photo on their office wall showing them "pushing a spade into the chalky soil alongside the tiny team we had started to build".

She said it marked the moment their ambition to create a "world class sparkling wine estate" became real.

University of Brighton Mark and Sarah Driver are standing behind a counter with bottles of sparkling wine on the shelves behind them. Mark is wearing a blue top and Sarah is wearing red. The shelves are grey and set into a stone wall with a brick outline and the counter is shiny and grey. — The couple's dedication has been praised as a powerful example of how "purpose-driven work" can transform lives

Professor Donna Whitehead, university vice-chancellor, said the couple's leadership, through DYT and Rathfinny, reflected "the very best of the values we champion at Brighton".

She described their dedication as "a powerful example of how purpose-driven work can transform lives".

A two-day graduation ceremony at the Brighton Centre on Thursday and Friday will see 1,701 students collect their degrees.

Whitehead said each graduate had shown talent, resilience and ambition and was leaving university ready to shape a "brighter, fairer and more sustainable future for our communities and our world".