Professor Jason Arday, described as Oxbridge's youngest black professor, is facing scrutiny over numerous claims within his life story, which is set to be detailed in his upcoming autobiography, 'Great And Unfortunate Things.' Arday, who rose from a South London council estate to a professorship at Cambridge University, has made extraordinary claims about overcoming severe autism, dyslexia, and a range of medical issues, while also pursuing a second career as a public speaker and raising millions for charity.
Questions have been raised about various aspects of his narrative, including his mother's academic achievements, the extent of his childhood speech therapy, and his alleged participation in the BBC's 'Seven Up!' documentary series. Arday claims his mother, an immigrant from Ghana, held five degrees while raising three sons, including one with severe autism. He also described spending thousands of hours in speech therapy from a young age, with one account suggesting up to 10 hours a day between ages two and 11. Regarding the 'Seven Up!' series, Arday stated he was part of a project that followed individuals throughout their lives, but the BBC confirmed he had no involvement, a claim Arday has since attributed to informal shorthand for a local initiative.
Academic and Personal Challenges
Arday has spoken of overcoming significant educational hurdles, stating he was unable to read or write until his mid-teens. His memoir details teachers allegedly banging pens on his knuckles for incomplete work. He eventually learned to read by age 18 with the help of his then-girlfriend, Debbie McKenzie, and tutor Sandro Sandri. However, McKenzie recalls him learning to speak at 11 and read and write by 16, slightly different timelines than Arday's accounts.
Further claims include Arday's prowess as a semi-professional footballer and an accomplished snooker player who won significant sums of money and commissioned a cue from a renowned maker. He also details enduring severe medical challenges, including being born deaf in one ear, dyslexia, dyscalculia, epilepsy following a mugging, and a benign brain tumor requiring surgery. Post-surgery, he reported experiencing a transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, affecting his short-term memory, yet he states he proceeded to pass his PhD viva examination.
Charitable Efforts and Professional Credentials
Arday's charitable work, which he states has raised over £5 million for 80 charities, has also come under review. He described completing 30 marathons in 35 days, including one with a fractured fibula, and running 300 miles in three days, and later 600 miles in six days. When pressed for evidence of the £5 million raised, Arday indicated he was part of a larger 'syndicate' and could not provide specific details due to an NDA. Similarly, claims of undertaking relief work with WaterAid installing water pumps in South America and West Africa have been refuted by the charity, which stated it does not send volunteers abroad or facilitate self-funded visits.
His professional credentials have also been questioned. Arday's Cambridge University CV lists visiting professorships at Glasgow University and Ohio State University. However, Glasgow University stated he was never a visiting professor, and Ohio State University has no record of him. While he held roles at Durham University, his current formal position there is reportedly not as an honorary professor as listed.
Allegations of Harassment and Intimidation
Arday has also alleged a campaign of racist intimidation, including threats, assault, and the delivery of a pig's head to his family home. He stated police investigated the pig's head incident, but the Metropolitan Police denied any such investigation occurred and found no record of officers visiting a butcher related to the claim. He further described being confronted by a masked man at his Cambridge faculty building, on one occasion with a knife, despite enhanced CCTV. The delay in reporting these incidents and the lack of CCTV evidence have been noted.