University announces Honorary Degree recipients

Tony Rowe, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Chiefs Rugby, and Philip Bostock, retired chief executive of Exeter City Council, will receive honorary degrees from the University of Exeter next week.

Joining them will be more than 4,000 graduands who will be personally greeted by the University’s Chancellor, Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL, who will be presiding over 17 ceremonies.

Graduation ceremonies take place in the Great Hall, Streatham Campus from 14 to 18 July and in Truro Cathedral on 21 July.

A total of 14 Honorary Graduates will receive degrees from the University, including some of its alumni, notable individuals from the South West area and others who have made a significant contribution internationally and in industry.

Professor Dame Julia Slingo, Chief Scientist at the Met Office and Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser will receive honorary Doctorates of Sciences.

Mike Leigh, writer-director and Chairman of the London Film School, Kanya King, CEO and Founder of the MOBOs and contemporary art curator Tom Trevor will all be honoured for their achievements in the creative industries.

Roy Pike, retired headteacher from Torquay Boy’s Gammar; Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Director of the Stephen Lawrence Trust;  Cobra Beer Chairman Lord Karan Bilimoria and Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the British Paralympic Association; along with Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator with the United Nations also receive honorary degrees.

From the higher education sector, Professor Teresa Rees, Cardiff University, and Carl Gilleard, Association of Graduate Recruitment will both be awarded Honorary Doctorates of Law.

Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL, Chancellor of the University of Exeter said: “The Graduation ceremonies are an uplifting and joyful celebration of our students’ achievements. It is an opportunity for friends and family to join me in congratulating each and every graduand.

"It is my privilege to award degrees to these remarkable people. They join a family of more than 92,000 Exeter alumni and we hope they keep in touch with us, as well as to go out and make a difference in the world with their qualification gained at our top ten University.”

The ceremonies will be streamed live from the Graduation website, where dates and schedules can also be viewed.