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Leading figures from the worlds of science, media, business, entertainment and social justice are to receive Honorary Doctorates from the University of Bradford this week (Wednesday, 16 July to Friday, 18 July, 2003).
The University will honour Sir Nicholas Montagu , Susan Scott-Parker , Emeritus Professor Duncan Dowson , Isabel Hilton , Professor Trevor Jones , Brian Blessed and Tim Smit , alongside graduates of the University of Bradford. The ceremonies take place in the Great Hall, University of Bradford, Richmond Building.
Susan Scott-Parker.
WEDNESDAY
16 JULY
10.30AM CEREMONY
Doctor of the University
Susan Scott-Parker
PHOTO-CALL, WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 10AM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Susan Scott-Parker is the founding Chief Executive of the (External) Employers' Forum on Disability . She is an acknowledged authority and commentator on the business advantages of embracing diversity and equal opportunities. She has extensive experience in assisting business and voluntary sectors to develop interceptive partnerships, as well as to design and evaluate complex change and communication programmes.
Whilst at the Coverdale Organisation, she gained considerable experience in the design and delivery of training and development programmes for leaders in the business and voluntary sectors. In addition, she helped Coverdale to design and market 'Coverdale in the Community' which offered training and consultancy to the not-for-profit sector.
Susan has extensive experience with clients as diverse as the King's Fund Centre, Canada Social Services, Birmingham City Council, the RNIB and the Autistic Society in the design and delivery of training courses and management consultancy on a range of topics at every level.
She receives a Doctorate in recognition of her achievements as Chief Executive of the Employers' Forum on Disability and, in particular, for her role in promoting good practice in relation to the employment of disabled people and raising awareness amongst employers regarding their legal duties and the Disability Discrimination Act.
Duncan Dowson.
WEDNESDAY
16 JULY
2.00PM CEREMONY
Doctor of Engineering
Emeritus Professor Duncan
Dowson
PHOTO-CALL, WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 3.15PM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Professor Duncan Dowson has written over 500 society publications and is recognised throughout the world as being the leading practitioner of the art and science of tribology, which encompasses the study of friction, wear, lubrication and contact mechanics.
His contribution has led to an outstanding intellectual contribution to the scientific understanding of lubricated mechanisms.
After a distinguished service to the (External) Institution of Mechanical Engineers (over thirty years), Professor Dowson became its President in 1992-3. In addition to his 'earned' higher doctorate from the (External) University of Leeds , his contribution has been recognised by higher doctorates honoris causa from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon in France, the University of Liege in Belgium and from The University of Waterloo in Canada.
He was elected a Fellow of the (External) Royal Academy of Engineering in 1982 and a Fellow of the (External) Royal Society of London in 1987. He received the Order of the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the Birthday Honours List in 1989.
He receives a Doctorate in recognition of his contributions to medical engineering, design, manufacture and management and to education at all levels, and to the promotion of the engineering profession.
Nicholas Montagu.
WEDNESDAY
16 JULY
4.15PM CEREMONY
Doctor of the University
Sir Nicholas Montagu
PHOTO-CALL, WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 1.45PM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
After reading classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, Sir Nicholas Montagu joined the Civil Service in 1974, entering the Department of Health and Social Security. He served in that Department, and after it split, Social Security, until 1992, apart from two years in the Cabinet Secretariat. From 1992 - 1997 he headed the team in Transport overseeing railway privatisation, moving to head the Economic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office in May 1997.
In July 1997, he became Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue.
He is also Chairman of the Civil Service Benevolent Fund and of the Civil Service Management Board Sub-Group on Diversity, a subject on which he remains the 'champion' for the Management Board.
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1993 Birthday Honours list, and a knight Commander of the Order in the 2001 Birthday Honours.
He is awarded a Doctorate for his contributions as Chairman of the Board of (External) Inland Revenue and, in particular, in recognition of his support for widening participation and the employment of young people.
Trevor Jones.
THURSDAY
17 JULY
10.30AM CEREMONY
Doctor of Science
Professor Trevor Jones
PHOTO-CALL, THURSDAY JULY 18, 11.45AM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Born in 1942, Professor Trevor Jones is a graduate of the University of London from which he also holds a PhD.
He is Director-General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, an appointment he has held since 1994. Previous appointments include Director of Research, Development and Medical for Main Board Wellcome plc, Wellcome Foundation Limited, as well as Director of Technical Development and Director of Development of Wellcome Foundation Limited. He has also held posts as Head of Tablet/Capsule Development and Head of Pharmaceutical Development for the Boots Co. Ltd.
Professor Jones presents lectures to a wide variety of lay and scientific audiences and broadcasts frequently on radio and television on pharmaceutical and biomedical scientific issues.
He has published over 100 scientific papers, communications and articles. He has held a number of Directorships for various companies including both Chairman of Kinetique and ReNeuron Limited, Founder member of Medicines for Malaria Venture and Non-Executive Director of Merlin Fund II.
He is awarded a Doctorate in recognition of his personal support for Bradford School of Pharmacy in staff development, curriculum design, research strategy and spin-off company activities; and for the proactive way he has used his position as Director-General of the (External) Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to promote the profession of Pharmacy.
Isabel Hilton.
FRIDAY
18 JULY
10.30AM CEREMONY
Doctor of Letters
Isabel Hilton
PHOTO-CALL, FRIDAY JULY 18, 11.45AM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Isabel Hilton is a London-based writer and broadcaster who has reported extensively from Latin America, East and South Asia, Africa and Europe.
In addition to her writing career, she has made many documentaries for BBC television , has been presenter of Radio 4's flagship current affairs programme, The World Tonight, and is currently both a staff writer for The New Yorker and presenter of Radio 3's main cultural programme, Night Waves.
She also writes a column on international affairs for the London daily newspaper, The Guardian. Isabel is frequently invited to lecture on international affairs, most recently at Stanford University in California, and has given the Lothian Lecture in Edinburgh.
She is also a frequent delegate to international conferences, both independent and governmental, including those at Ditchley Park and Wilton Park. In 1989, she was a fellow of the British American Project for the Successor Generation.
Isabel is the author of The Search for the Panchen Lama, a history of China and Tibet, and co-author of The Falklands War, and The Fourth Reich, a biography of Klaus Barbie.
She receives a Doctorate in recognition of her work as a writer and a journalist and, in particular, for her contributions to the understanding of international politics.
FRIDAY 18 JULY
2.00PM CEREMONY
Doctor of Science
Tim Smit
PHOTO-CALL, FRIDAY JULY 18, 3.15PM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Tim Smit, along with his partner John Nelson, was responsible for 'discovering' and then restoring (External) The Lost Gardens of Heligan , for which he is currently a Director.
The Gardens receive over 400,000 visitors a year and it is the most visited private garden in the UK. It was voted Garden of the Year 1995 by Country Life, Garden of the Year by the Good Guide to Britain in 2000 and The Nation's Favourite Garden by Gardeners' World in 2003.
Tim's book The Lost Gardens of Heligan was Illustrated Book of the Year 1997 at the British Book Awards and headed the Sunday Times Best-sellers' lists for several months. The 10-part documentary series of the same name won the Garden Documentary of the Year award in 1998.
Tim is Chief Executive and co-founder of the (External) Eden Project , near St Austell in Cornwall. Eden opened its doors to the public in 2000 when the press dubbed it the Eighth Wonder of the World. In 2000, Tim was given the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in the UK Award by the English Tourism Council. In 2001, he was the subject of the BBC's This is Your Life.
In January 2002, Tim was awarded an Honorary CBE in the New Year's Honours List.
He is awarded a Doctorate for his visionary contributions as the guiding force behind the restoration of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the construction of the Eden Project.
Brian Blessed.
FRIDAY
18 JULY
4.15PM CEREMONY
Doctor of Letters
Brian Blessed
PHOTO-CALL, FRIDAY JULY 18, 1.45PM, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
The son of a South Yorkshire coal miner, Brian Blessed was born in Mexborough and grew up in the mining village of Goldthorpe. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before beginning a distinguished and varied career which has encompassed all media. Brian is now one of Britain's best known and highly respected actors.
Musical credits include Cats, for which he received a SWET nomination, and Metropolis. Whilst a member of the (External) Royal Shakespeare Company he starred in Hamlet, Henry V and Richard III.
Countless television roles include Augustus Caesar in I Claudius for which he received the New York Critics Award, PC Fancy Smith in Z Cars, Porthos in The Three Musketeers, Richard IV in Black Adder and Squire Western in Tom Jones. Recent cinema credits include Boss Nass in Star Wars, The Phantom Menace, Pendragon in Merlin - The Legend Begins and Clayton in Walt Disney's Tarzan.
Brian has worked with some of the country's leading orchestras and has had a thriving career as a best-selling author. He has been on three expeditions to Mount Everest and has completed a trek to the North Pole.
He receives a Doctorate for his contributions as an actor.
Professor Chris Taylor, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: "We are pleased to be able to recognise the achievements of such talented and distinguished individuals and we are delighted that the Honorary Graduates will join with us in celebrating the achievements of our many graduates."
For further information on the photo-calls, or to obtain photographs and quotes from the Honorary Graduates following the event, please contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Emma Scales on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 236280.
For further media information, please contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Emma Scales on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.