University announces honours list

The designer of the London 2012 Olympic medals and the founder of one of the UK’s leading discount chains are among those receiving honorary degrees from the University of Wolverhampton this year.

Artist David Watkins and co-founder of Poundland David Dodd, who were both born in Wolverhampton, will receive honorary degrees at graduation ceremonies this September.

Also set to be honoured is Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Denis O’Connor, and National Statistician, Jil Matheson.

A number of West Midlands-based businesses are represented on this year’s list, including the Chief Executive of Marston’s PLC, Ralph Findlay, and Managing Director of Malthouse Engineering in Tividale, Roy Taylor.

Honorary Fellowships will also be presented to two leading figures in education in Oman. Lefeer Muhamed Marakkarackayil and Abdullah Saif Ahmed Al Sabahi established the Middle East College in Muscat and will be honoured on Friday, 7 September 2012.

Other recipients include Rob Bacon, Chief Executive for the Black Country Primary Care Trusts and Chief Executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, Ben Reid.

Former Director of Services for Children and Young People at Wolverhampton City Council, Roy Lockwood, and Chair of the Wolverhampton Interfaith and Regeneration Network, Harun Rashid, will also be honoured.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are proud to award honorary degrees to people who have made an outstanding contribution to their field of expertise.

“As people who have striven to reach the pinnacle of their profession, they offer inspiration to our graduates as they collect their own awards throughout graduation.”

The University of Wolverhampton graduation ceremonies will take place at the Grand Theatre from Thursday, 6 September to Friday, 14 September 2012.

The full list of honorary recipients and their awards is below:

School of Art and Design

Thursday, 6 September 2012

David Watkins - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Design in recognition of his significant local and international contribution in the field of design.

School of Technology

Friday, 7 September 2012

Harun Rashid JP - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science in recognition of his significant contribution throughout the region in promoting inter-faith networks.

Jil Matheson - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science in recognition of her significant contribution to the science of statistics and statistical analysis.

Lefeer Muhamed Marakkarackayil - Honorary Fellowship in recognition of the development of Education in Oman.

Abdullah Saif Ahmed Al Sabahi - Honorary Fellowship in recognition of the development of Education in Oman.

School for Education Futures

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Roy Lockwood - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education in recognition of his significant local and national contribution to school improvement and children’s services.

Ben Reid OBE - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his leadership of wide-ranging social enterprise initiatives throughout the region.

School of Health and Wellbeing

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Rob Bacon - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in recognition of his exceptional leadership, and his regional and national contribution to community care and public health.

University of Wolverhampton Business School

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Roy Taylor - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his inspirational business acumen, and significant contribution to the regional economy through the promotion of Knowledge Transfer initiatives.

David Dodd - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the economy of the region.

School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Sir Denis O’Connor CBE QPM - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his significant contribution to effective policing.

School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure

Friday, 14 September 2012

Ralph Findlay - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his contribution to the regional economy; and in particular his leadership of a significant business in the hospitality and leisure sector.

ENDS

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736