A life for design - Sheffield Hallam University

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Review
Feature 2011 honorary doctorates
War Horse, opera, the World Cup
and a certain meerkat all lead to
success for our honorary doctors
Eleven inspirational figures from across the country
were awarded honorary doctorates by the University
this year for services to education, sport, business,
and much more.
By Ally Mogg
Mo Laycock
Local education
champion Mo Laycock
OBE was honoured for
her inspirational work in
transforming challenging
schools in the city.
“Today I’ve seen some fantastic
young people going into teaching
and some fantastic teaching and
learning going on here. My advice
to the graduates here today is ‘go
for it’. To work with young people,
to be positive about their future,
to help them aspire, whatever the
school, whatever the situation, to be
a positive role model to them - it’s the
best job in the world.”
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE, the UK’s
most popular opera star,
took to the stage to collect an
honorary degree for services
to opera and the community.
“Believe in your passion, and embrace
opportunities that you are given…It’s a
great honour to receive this honorary
doctorate from this extraordinary
institution. The city of Sheffield
means so much to me, and my family
has been connected with it for so
many years. To be here with these
wonderful people makes it even
more special.”
Howard Webb
It was a long way from Soccer
City to Sheffield City Hall for
World Cup referee Howard
Webb as he collected an
honorary doctorate for his
services to sport.
“Sheffield Hallam played a significant
part in my preparation for [the World
Cup in] 2010… Sport and education
stand hand in hand in developing
the good citizens and champions of
tomorrow. Success is not just about
the track, or the pool, but about
business, industry and commerce
as well.”
Michael
Morpurgo
War Horse author Michael
Morpurgo expressed his
delight at being back in
a city with which he has
many connections as he
received an honorary degree
for his services to children’s
literature.
“We only get to where we get with
the help of special people. Parents,
grandparents, lecturers, teachers and
friends all make a difference and do
turn lives around.”
Kal Atwal
Kal Atwal is the driving force
behind comparethemarket.
com and received an
honorary degree for her
outstanding contribution
to business 17 years
after completing her
undergraduate studies at
Sheffield Hallam.
“It means a lot to receive this honour
having graduated from the University
17 years ago. Having spent time with
students here I am pleased Sheffield
Hallam is continuing to attract such
high calibre students... It is difficult
out there at the moment finding work
after graduating but stick with it. I
can’t remember how many rejections
I had when I started my career, but
you need to persevere and keep
your confidence.”
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Mick Elliott
Michael Elliott is Chief
Executive of the Royal
Scottish National Orchestra
and former Director of
Culture at the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport.
He was awarded an honorary
degree for his contribution to
the arts, culture and public
service.
“I’d like to thank the University
from the bottom of my heart. The
institution has changed a lot since I
was here, but it’s still an enterprising
centre of excellence, a provider of
first class facilities to its students and
graduates, and it’s a business-facing,
forward-looking institution.”
Feature 2011 honorary doctorates
Celia Hoyles
Professor Celia Hoyles OBE
is a leading mathematics
educator and former
Government adviser. She
was honoured for her role
as a champion of maths
education in the UK.
“There are huge opportunities
in engineering, science and
mathematics - opportunities that
certainly weren’t available when
I graduated. With that sort of
background, from this university,
graduates should really go places.
Certainly, the country needs them
- we need more science, technology,
engineering and maths graduates
and they should have a very good
place in the future.”
Ian Sarson
Ian Sarson, group managing
director of Compass Group
UK and Ireland was awarded
an honorary doctorate for
his services to business, and
took time to offer advice
to graduates during the
ceremony.
“I’m so honoured to receive this
doctorate. The calibre of graduates
we have worked with has been
exemplary and I hope to be a part of
the University for many years
to come.”
Julietta
Patnick
Professor Julietta Patnick’s
career has been dedicated to
developing and leading the
nation’s approach to the early
detection of cancer through
screening. Her advice to
graduates was not to plan
their careers too carefully.
“It’s just over 30 years since I walked
across this very stage to have my
degree conferred. I’d never have
imagined then that I’d be standing
here like this. And if life had gone
according to the plan I had 30 years
ago... I know I wouldn’t be standing
here now. I am very honoured and
humbled to have this recognition
from this institution.”
Frank Eul
Frank Eul was chair of
Sheffield Hallam’s board of
governors until 2010, and
said he was “absolutely
thrilled” to be honoured for
his services to the city.
“You have graduated from a
University with an enormous
reputation and your knowledge is
valuable… When I arrived the city
was prosperous but dirty. Then it
went through a tremendous trough
- recession and depression. It took
a long time to come out of that but
it now has areas like Millennium
Square and the Peace Gardens which
are civic designs that would grace
any European city.”
Alex Pettifer
The man behind some of
Sheffield’s most famous
regeneration projects was
honoured for his outstanding
contribution to higher
education and to the city of
Sheffield.
“In all my years of sitting on the
platform I never thought that I’d be
someone who walked across the stage
to collect a degree. Thanks to the
University for nominating me. It’s great
to be honoured by the people that you
have worked with.”