Student in posthumous UCO honour

Matt Jackson who received a posthumous diploma of higher education in digital arts practice from University Campus Oldham.

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A TALENTED games art student who died of a rare stomach cancer was honoured at University Campus Oldham's graduation.

Matt Jackson's diploma of higher education in digital arts practice was presented posthumously to partner Gemma Awde ­-who he was due to marry in August ­- during the ceremony at Oldham Parish Church.

She was watched by Matt's twin Lyndsay Jackson, from Limeside, who said: "It was very emotional. There was also some resentment that he wasn't there because he longed to have a qualification in games design."

Former Kaskenmoor pupil Matt (30) studied art and design at Oldham College before working for HMV in Oldham and Ashton. But he decided to go back into education when the stores closed and enrolled on a three-year digital arts practice degree at UCO.

"It just started off with tiredness and he was a bit pale," said Lyndsay. "He went to the doctor and had blood tests which showed he had low iron levels. When he started getting weaker, they gave him a blood transfusion."

Matt, who lived with Lyndsay before moving to Todmorden, West Yorkshire, with Gemma, was diagnosed with a rare stomach cancer and had a bypass operation.

"Because it was a rare type of cancer, traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy wouldn't work. He was given tablets which were supposed be a targeted treatment but they didn't work," said Lyndsay

"They gave him a different set of tablets and he was only a month into the treatment when he passed away on June 13. He never drank or smoked, so for something like this to happen out of the blue, we can't understand it."

Because he had done two years of his course, he was awarded a diploma of higher education.

Lyndsay added: "He had been artistic since he was little and was extremely talented. He was funny, witty and a very loving person." Barry Armstrong, senior lecturer in digital and creative industries at UCO, said: "Matt was one of our most talented students. His drawing ability was outstanding.

"We believed he would become a first-class honours degree graduate and go on to became a computer games artist. His friends and staff at UCO will miss him deeply."