Britain's most successful female Olympian and a former FA and PFA Women's Player of the Year are among those who will be honoured at next week's summer graduations at the University of Aberdeen.
Dame Katherine Grainger DBE and Kim Little will pick up honorary degrees on Tuesday (June 20).
Glasgow-born rower Dame Katherine is the only woman to have won medals at five consecutive Olympic Games, rounding off her career at the Rio Games with a silver medal to bring her Olympic haul to one gold and four silver medals. She will receive a Doctor Honoris Causa (DHC) from the University.
Kim Little, who was born in Aberdeen and attended Mintlaw Academy, is a professional footballer with 121 Scotland caps and 48 goals to her name. A competitor in the London 2012 Olympics, she has played for clubs worldwide and has won numerous accolades, including the FA and PFA Women’s Player of the Year. She will receive a Master of the University (MUniv) degree.
They are among 12 distinguished figures picking up honorary degrees over five days of graduation ceremonies taking place at the University’s Old Aberdeen campus next week.
Donald Lamont, former Governor of the Falkland Islands, will receive a Doctor of Laws (LLD) on Monday. Mr Lamont was born in Aberdeen and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, before graduating from the University and entering the diplomatic service where he served as ambassador to Uruguay and Venezuela, among other roles.
Sir Moir Lockhead, former Chief Executive of Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, will receive a Doctor of Laws on Wednesday. Under his leadership FirstGroup grew to become the UK’s largest bus and rail operator and one of the largest surface transport operators in North America. Sir Moir is a long-time supporter of the University, having served as Senior Governor of the University Court until earlier this year. He is currently Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland.
On Thursday, Brian Pack OBE will receive a Doctor Honoris Causa. Formerly Chief Executive of north-east agricultural co-operative ANM Group, Mr Pack has advised the Scottish Government on support for agriculture in Scotland, with the vast majority of his recommendations being formally adopted.
Thursday will also see Isobel Yule receive a Master of the University degree. Isobel graduated from the University of Aberdeen despite suffering severe deterioration in her eyesight as a student. Moving into teaching, she was active in developing methods to help blind and partially sighted students. An internationally renowned speaker, she is formerly Vice-Chair of the Braille Authority and Chair of the European Blind Commission for Activities of Multi-Disabled, Visually Impaired People.
On Friday, Former Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Adam will be awarded a Doctor of Laws. A long-standing member of the city council, he has been a tireless ambassador for the city, welcoming dignitaries from home and abroad and representing the city at numerous events and conferences.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “Our honorary graduates have achieved so much in their fields while making a significant contribution to society, and I am delighted to welcome these talented and successful individuals to the University family.
“They provide an inspirational example to our graduates as they move onto a new chapter in their careers.”
Notes for Editors
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Please see below the full list of honorary degree recipients and their biographies, along with graduation dates and times.
Monday 19 June at 11.00 am
Donald Alexander Lamont MA
Retired Diplomat; Former Ambassador to Uruguay and to Venezuela and Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Aberdeen-born Donald Lamont is a former Aberdeen Grammar School pupil and attended the University of Aberdeen. Mr Lamont entered HM Diplomatic Service in 1974 and served as Ambassador to Uruguay (1991-1994) and as Head of Republic of Ireland Department, FCO (1994-1997). From 1999 to 2002 he was Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands before serving as Ambassador to Venezuela (2003-2006). On his retirement he was appointed Chief Executive of Wilton Park (2007-2009), an executive agency of the FCO. Mr Lamont is Chairman of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, the Friends of the Falkland Islands Museum and the Jane Cameron National Archives.
Degree: LLD Promoter: Professor S Heys
(Note: Donald Lamont is the brother of Mrs Alison Skene MBE MA MUniv)
David Strachan BD, Diploma in Pastoral Studies
Managing Director of Tern Television Productions
David Strachan is a divinity graduate of the University of Aberdeen, where he was active in the University Staff Student TV Production Group, which led to him becoming a freelance presenter on Grampian Television. He was ordained in 1978 and served as a parish minister in Perthshire for six years, during which time he was also Chaplain to the Moderator of the General Assembly. He remained interested in broadcasting and left his parish to establish the Community Channel at Aberdeen Cable. Its owners decided to establish Tern Television in 1988, and Mr Strachan led a management buyout in 1992. His company currently makes award-winning programmes for the majority of BBC channels, Channel 4, Sky, Discovery, ITV and National Geographic. Tern’s recent productions include Rivers with Jeremy Paxman and Britain’s Lost Masterpieces.
Degree: DHC Promoter: Dr A Bryzgel
Monday 19 June at 3.00 pm
Professor Stanley Hauerwas BD, MA, MPhil, PhD, DD
Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke Divinity School
Professor Stanley Hauerwas is a world-renowned theologian whose book, A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic, was selected as one of the 100 most important books on religion of the 20th century. Professor Hauerwas was educated at Southwestern University and Yale and began his teaching career at the University of Notre Dame. He is currently the Gilbert T Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School and holds an appointment in Duke Law School. His work cuts across disciplinary lines, encompassing systematic theology, philosophical theology and ethics, political theory, and the philosophy of social science and medical ethics. Professor Hauerwas was named "Best Theologian in America" by Time magazine in 2001.
Degree: DD Promoter: Dr M Mawson
Tuesday 20 June at 11.00 am
Ms Margaret Carlaw BSc
Retired Teacher, retired Primary Education Adviser, farmer, writer and philanthropist
Margaret Carlaw has taught in primary schools in Aberdeen and Midlothian, and as a lecturer at Aberdeen College of Education. On retirement she took over the family farm in Stichill and currently divides her time between there and her Aberdeen home. She has written a number of books on the history, wildlife and culture of Stichill. In collaboration with Professor Derek Ogston she produced ‘King’s College Chapel: History, Buildings and Artistic Portrayal’ (2009) donating the proceeds to the University of Aberdeen. Her support for music at the University is longstanding. She is adored by the students for her warmth and encouragement, and was made Patron of the erstwhile University of Aberdeen Gilbert and Sullivan Society. She is currently joint Patron of the University’s Opera Society and King’s Philharmonic Wind Orchestra.
Degree: MUniv Promoter: Professor P Mealor
Tuesday 20 June at 3.00 pm
Kim Alison Little BSc
Olympian and Scottish International Footballer
Kim Little, who was born in Aberdeen and attended Mintlaw Academy, is a professional footballer with 121 Scotland caps and 48 goals to her name. A competitor in the London 2012 Olympics, she has won numerous accolades, including the FA and PFA Women’s Player of the Year and most recently, the BBC's Women's Footballer of the Year 2016. From age 10 to 14, she played at the youth level for Buchan Girls before joining the Hibernian Girls in 2005. During her time with Hibernian Girls, Ms Little would travel between Aberdeen and Edinburgh for training. Currently with Arsenal LFC, she has played for Melbourne City FC and Seattle Reign FC. Kim Little’s success has played an important role in giving women’s football the recognition that it deserves.
Degree: MUniv Promoter: Professor M Ross
Tuesday 20 June at 6.30 pm
Dame Katherine Grainger DBE
Athlete, Olympian
Glasgow-born rower Dame Katherine Grainger is Great Britain’s most successful female Olympian. She is the only female to have won medals at five consecutive Olympic Games, rounding off her career with a Silver Medal in Rio in the double sculls. She took up rowing at Edinburgh University in 1993 and trained for a time in the north-east of Scotland, as her family lived in Maryculter. She has maintained an academic strand throughout her sporting career, graduating LLB from Edinburgh, being awarded an MPhil in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from Glasgow, and achieving a PhD in the sentencing of homicide from King’s College, University of London. In 2012 she was elected to the British Olympic Association’s Athlete Commission and became a member of the Board for the charity ‘International Inspiration’. Earlier this year she was appointed Chair of UK Sport, a role she will take up in July.
Degree: DHC Promoter: Ms A McClellan
Wednesday 21 June at 11.00 am
Sir Moir Lockhead Kt, OBE, DBA, DHC
Lately Senior Governor, Court, University of Aberdeen
Sir Moir Lockhead left school at 15 and started work as an apprentice mechanic. By 1985 he was General Manager with Grampian Regional Transport. He led a successful employee/management buy-out of the company in 1989 and following a merger in 1995 FirstGroup was created. Under Sir Moir’s leadership it grew to become the UK’s largest bus and rail operator and one of the largest surface transport operators in North America. Sir Moir is a long-time supporter of the University of Aberdeen, having served as a member of University Court and as Senior Governor. He was awarded a Knighthood for services to transport in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2008. A former Chairman of the Scottish Rugby Union, Sir Moir is currently Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland.
Degree: LLD Promoter: Principal
Thursday 22 June at 11.00 am
Brian Sidney Pack OBE, SDA, Dip.FBOM, MSc, FRAgS Member of University Court, University of Aberdeen
Brian Pack is a Member of University Court and was formerly Chief Executive of the ANM Group Ltd. A highly respected figure in UK agriculture and food sectors, he has played a prominent role in the industry, particularly the red meat sector. Mr Pack’s interest in financial management for farm businesses led him to develop an award-winning software programme which is still in use today. He has advised the Government on food distribution and chaired the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture in Scotland, publishing his report in 2010. A subsequent report which focused on reducing red tape for Scottish farmers saw the vast majority of his recommendations being formally accepted by the Scottish Government. A Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1999.
Degree: DHC Promoter: Mrs C Inglis
Thursday 22 June at 3.00 pm
David Andrew Steyn LLB
Member of University Court, University of Aberdeen
David Steyn graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an LLB in 1979. His career has been in investment management and strategy, based in the UK and USA. Mr Steyn was a partner and the Chief Operating Officer of AllianceBernstein, a firm he joined in 1999 as the founding Chief Executive Officer of Bernstein's London office. Subsequently he was responsible for all of AllianceBernstein's business management and client teams worldwide. Mr Steyn is the author of "Market Neutral: Engineering Return and Risk" which was published by the CFA Institute in 1998. Mr Steyn has been a member of the University Court since 2011, and has served on the board of the University of Aberdeen USA Development Trust - part of the University's philanthropic arm - while based in New York.
Degree: DHC Promoter: Ms A M Slater
Thursday 22 June at 6.30 pm
Jennifer Ann Brown MA, DUniv
Literary Agent
Jenny Brown graduated in English from the University of Aberdeen in 1980. She quickly made her mark in the world of literature when she became founder Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, a post she held for ten years. From there she presented book programmes for Scottish Television and in 1995 co-ordinated the Readiscovery campaign, Scotland’s year of reading.
In 1996 she became Literature Director for the Scottish Arts Council. In 2004 Edinburgh was designated first UNESCO City of Literature, due in great part to the vision of Jenny Brown and her fellow trustees. In 2002 she founded Jenny Brown Associates, now one of the leading writers’ agencies in the UK. Jenny Brown has been a major influence on Scottish culture over three decades through her role in the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, the Scottish Arts Council, and now as Scotland’s foremost literary agent.
Degree: DLitt Promoter: Professor A Lumsden
Isobel Yule MA
Retired Educationalist and Teacher of the Blind and Partially-Sighted
Isobel Yule’s working life has been dedicated to providing access to information for blind and partially sighted adults and children. She became a student at the University of Aberdeen in 1957, initially studying French and German before she suffered severe deterioration in her eyesight, at which point she changed to a general degree. With the help of readers she successfully graduated and moved into teaching. In the evenings she attended the Royal Blind School to learn Braille and other special teaching skills and by 1963 was teaching at Dorton House, a school for the visually impaired in Kent. She was quickly appointed Head of French and History, teaching through the media of Braille, large print or audio. In the 1980s she carried out research in speed reading in Braille at Birmingham University while also training student teachers. A teaching video of her methods received an award from the British Medical Association and she was invited to speak at conferences at home and abroad. She became Vice Chair of the Braille Authority and from 1996 to 2003 she was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the European Blind Union Commission for Activities of Multi-Disabled, Visually Impaired People.
Degree: MUniv Promoter: Professor M Campbell
Friday 23 June at 11.00 am
George Adam DA
Lately Lord Provost, City of Aberdeen
Councillor George Adam has been a diligent, hard-working and popular Lord Provost and Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen. A long-standing member of Aberdeen City Council, he represented the Hilton, Woodside, and Stockethill Ward and maintained particular interests in housing, education, the arts, and neighbourhood planning. On graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art he developed his reputation as a designer and event manager, relinquishing his business interests when elected Provost. As Lord Provost his role was wide-ranging, involving all sectors of the local community and beyond. He has represented the City at numerous events and conferences including Offshore Europe and Houston OTC. As ‘Aberdeen’s First Citizen’ he has been a tireless ambassador for the City of Aberdeen, its people and its economy.
Degree: LLD Promoter: Professor M Ross
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Contact
Robert Turbyne
Issued on
14 June 2017
