The University of Winchester is celebrating the outstanding achievements of students at Graduation ceremonies this month (19-29 July 2021), as students who finished their studies last year during the pandemic finally have a chance to graduate at Winchester Cathedral.
More than 2,000 students, whose ceremonies were postponed last autumn due to Covid-19 restrictions, will graduate over 17 Covid-safe ceremonies, the majority of which will be presided over by Chancellor of the University Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH DL.
Graduands and their guests will be attending in person and virtually. Face coverings are mandatory in the socially-distanced ceremonies and all in-person attendees are required to have a negative Covid test in the 24 hours before the ceremony.
"I am always incredibly proud of our graduates and am looking forward to celebrating their success at Graduation. This is especially true this year, when students completed their final year of study in such challenging and extraordinary times. I am in awe of their resilience," said The Reverend Professor Elizabeth Stuart, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester.
The University of Winchester offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across a range of subjects including the arts, business, digital technologies, education, health and wellbeing, humanities, law, social sciences and sport.
The University is also recognising the achievements, distinguished careers and contributions to society of inspirational individuals, who have excelled in fields related to the University's values, research and teaching programmes. Recipients of Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships this year include Strictly Come Dancing judge and choreographer Craig Revel Horwood, actor Tommy Jessop, (Line of Duty) and conservationist David Mills MBE, recognising excellence in their respective fields.
This year's Honorary Doctors and Fellows are:
Craig Revel Horwood (Honorary Doctor of Arts)
Craig Revel Horwood is a household name, having appeared as a Judge on all 18 series of the hit BBC1 entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. He also both directs and appears in the annual Strictly Come Dancing Live arena tour, created the touring show Strictly Confidential and was Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Australia and New Zealand.
Craig started his career as a performer in musical theatre in his home country of Australia, moving to London to appear in many West End musicals including Miss Saigon and Crazy for You.
Tommy Jessop (Honorary Doctor of Arts)
Tommy is one of the founding members of Blue Apple, a theatre and dance company dedicated to supporting performers with learning difficulties to develop and present high quality productions for the widest possible audiences. Tommy is the first professional actor with Down syndrome to play Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's most famous characters. Over the past decade he has made guest appearances in episodes of Casualty, Holby City and Doctors, most recently featuring in the BBC's hit drama Line of Duty.
David Mills MBE (Honorary Fellowship)
David founded the British Wildlife Centre 21 years ago. Realising a lifelong ambition to create his own zoo, he decided not to replicate what other people were doing with more exotic animals, but to concentrate on British wildlife. David's approach was to actively encourage close keeper-animal bonds of trust which would allow the keeper to show wildlife to visitors and to provide natural and stimulating enclosures for the animals, a technique that has now been universally embraced as the best way to keep wild animals in captivity.
Other prominent individuals being honoured include:
Elaine Cameron, Producer, Executive Producer and Head of Development at Hartswood Films, which makes the global television hit Sherlock
Honorary Doctor of Arts
Jock McKenzie, Director of Hampshire County Youth Bands since 2004
Honorary Fellowship
Rosie Inman-Cook, manager of the Natural Death Centre charity
Honorary Fellowship
A full list of those receiving Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships this year, along with short biographies as seen in the Graduation brochure, is available here: Honorary_Doctorates_and_Fellowships_2020
Programme of Ceremonies for Graduation Class of 2020
Monday 19 July at 6pm
Faculty of Arts Ceremony I
Honorary Doctorate: Elaine Cameron
Monday 19 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Arts Ceremony II
Honorary Doctorate: Tommy Jessop
Tuesday 20 July at 6pm
Faculty of Arts Ceremony III
Honorary Doctorate: Craig Revel Horwood
Tuesday 20 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Arts Ceremony IV
Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies Ceremony I
Wednesday 21 July at 6pm
Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies Ceremony II
Wednesday 21 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies Ceremony III
Thursday 22 July at 6pm
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Ceremony I
Honorary Fellowship: David Mills MBE
Thursday 22 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Ceremony II
Friday 23 July at 6pm
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony I
Friday 23 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony II
Monday 26 July at 6pm
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony III
Monday 26 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony IV
Tuesday 27 July at 6pm
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony V
Honorary Fellowship: Rosie Inman-Cook
Tuesday 27 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Education Ceremony I
Honorary Fellowship: Jock McKenzie
Wednesday 28 July at 6pm
Faculty of Education Ceremony II
Wednesday 28 July at 8.30pm
Faculty of Education Ceremony III
Thursday 29 July at 6pm
Faculty of Education Ceremony IV
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