Inspirational figures to receive honorary degrees

Former English cricketer Chris Read will be among the recipients receiving an honorary degree

The university will present the awards to 11 recipients during its summer graduation ceremonies.

The recipients include Elizabeth Fagan, the first female managing director of Boots, who will receive a Doctor of Science.

Elizabeth, an advocate of supporting the local community, will take on a new role in September to become the first non-executive chairman of Boots. Boots has been at the heart of Nottingham’s community for almost 170 years, supporting the city and its people to live healthier, happier lives. This has been done through gifts of green land, creating better working practices, and by supporting important local charitable causes.

Today, Elizabeth continues to further the longstanding community relationship Boots has with Nottingham though the development of the Boots site as part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and the business’ ongoing charity activities, such as the Nottingham WE Schools programme.

International ice hockey player and former Nottingham Panthers captain, Corey Neilson, will receive a Doctor of Sport. Corey became the Panthers’ assistant coach in 2008 and under his guidance as head coach the team won four Elite League play-off titles and seven Challenge Cup wins.

Former British Paralympic swimmer, Tim Reddish CBE, will receive an honorary doctorate. During his successful career, Tim has won 43 medals including three silver and two bronze Paralympic medals.

Anne Morrison, an internationally respected leader in broadcasting, television and media, will receive a Doctor of Arts. Anne is chair of Pearson College, London, and of BAFTA’s International Committee. She was formerly chair of BAFTA itself and is the second woman to hold the position.

Other recipients include David Collier OBE, former CEO of England and Wales Cricket Board, Professor Neil Gorman, former Vice-Chancellor of NTU, Circuit Judge HHJ Avik Mukherjee, cricketer Chris Read and Sir Roger Carr, Chairman of BAE Systems.

Notable NTU alumni are also among those who will receive honorary degrees, including Air Marshal Sir Barry ‘Baz’ North, KCB, OBE, who graduated in 1981 and Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, Australia, Professor Andrew Vann, who graduated from NTU in 1989.

The honorary degrees will be presented during the graduation ceremonies, from 16- 27 July. They will be held in the University Hall and the Royal Concert Hall.

The university’s Awards for Outstanding Alumni will be presented to Beth Chilton, in recognition of her success in the fashion business, and to Lizzie Carr, in recognition of working to rid the UK’s waterways of plastic pollution.

Beth, who graduated in 2008 with a BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Management, owns two fashion brands with her business partner. Within the first 12 months of launching they turned over £1m and in 2016 they convinced Dragons’ Den Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden to invest in their e-commerce site.

Lizzie Carr graduated in 2007 with a BA (Hons) in English and became the first female in history to paddle board solo across the English Channel, while collecting water samples for micro plastic analysis as part of her #PlasticPatrol campaign.

Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “I am delighted that people of such distinction will be accepting Honorary Degrees from NTU this summer and sharing their valuable insights on their lives and careers with our students.”