University awards honorary doctorates

The Rt Hon. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers will receive an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws at a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, February 25 2009.

Three honorary degrees will be presented during graduation, which takes place at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers was Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice from 2000 to 2005, and was appointed Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales on 1 October 2005. Three years later, he was appointed Senior Law Lord, President designate of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Also set to receive an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws is Rt Hon. Lord Justice Jacob. Sir Robin Jacob is the President of the Intellectual Property Institute, Hon. President of the UK branch of the Licensing Executive Society, and Hon. President of the Association of Law Teachers.

The third honorary degree will go to Mark Britnell, the Director General for Commissioning and System Management at the Department of Health, who will receive an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science. Mr Britnell became the Chief Executive of University Hospital Birmingham in 2000, having joined the trust in 1998 as Director of Operations. In 2006, he was appointed Chief Executive of NHS South Central.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Geoff Hurd said: “We are delighted to award honorary degrees to people who have made a significant contribution to their field. The University is pleased to recognise the achievements of these three high profile figures, who have achieved great success in their areas of expertise.”

The University of Wolverhampton hosts graduations in February and September each year.

Further information

For media inquiries, contact Vickie Woodward in the Press Office on 01902 322736 or 07973 335112.