6 June 2016 -
The first President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, will be among those to receive an honorary doctorate from the University in ceremonies during July.
The politician , who formerly served as Prime Minister of Belgium before his five years in office at the European Council, will receive a Doctor of Civil Law in recognition for his distinguished contribution to public life internationally at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 14 July at 10.30am.
Among others set to receive honorary degrees, at ceremonies at both Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals, are immunology expert Professor Doreen Cantrell CBE, FRS, FRSE, FMedSci, English Classical Scholar, Professor Mary Beard OBE FBA FSA and founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust , one of the United Kingdom’s largest philanthropic foundations, Dr Sigrid Rausing.
Chief Executive of Shepherd Neame , Jonathan Neame DL, of the Faversham-based brewery which is Britain’s oldest brewer, will receive a Doctor of the University degree in recognition for his contribution to business and the county of Kent at Canterbury Cathedral on Monday 11 July at 7.30pm.
BBC journalist, Fiona Glover , studied classical civilisation and philosophy at the University and will receive a Doctor of the University in recognition of her successful career in broadcasting at Rochester Cathedral on Tuesday 19 July at 10.30am.
Director of victims’ group Widows against Violence Empower (WAVE), Sandra Peake MBE, will receive a Doctor of Civil Law in recognition for her pioneering work as a civil rights activist at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday 15 July at 10.30am.
Ambassador Ivo Daalder , who was the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, studied politics at the University and will receive a Doctor of Civil Law in recognition of his contribution to diplomacy at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 13 July at 7.30pm.
Also due to receive honorary degrees are:
- Steve Pateman is receiving a Doctor of the University in recognition for his contribution to the banking industry on Monday 11 July at 2.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Professor Thomas Docherty is receiving a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his academic career and his commitment to higher education on Tuesday 12 July at 10.30am at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Professor Stephen Bann CBE FBA is receiving a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his highly influential contribution to art history on Tuesday 12 July at 2.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Professor Laura Marcus FBA is receiving a Doctor of Letters in recognition for her contribution to the study of literature on Tuesday 12 July at 7.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- The Hon Dame Linda Dobbs DBE is receiving a Doctor of Letters in recognition of her pioneering role as a non-white woman in the senior judiciary on Wednesday 13 July at 10.30am at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Dr Wayne Garvie is receiving a Doctor of the University in recognition of his highly successful career in television and the media on Wednesday 13 July at 2.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Professor Mary Beard OBE FBA FSA is receiving a Doctor of Letters in recognition of her pioneering work as an academic and communicator on Thursday 14 July at 2.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Professor Doreen Cantrell is receiving a Doctor of Science in recognition of her major contribution to the field of immunology on Thursday 14 July at 7.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral.
- Dr Sigrid Rausing is receiving a Doctor of Letter in recognition of her contribution to philanthropy and publishing on Tuesday 19 July at 2.30pm at Rochester Cathedral.
By Kiran Dhaliwal