Buckingham’s Honorary Graduates

Over the years, The University has been pleased to confer honorary degrees to a wide range of distinguished individuals from all walks of life, who have made major contributions in their particular field. This includes people from academic life, politics, law and society in general, both within the UK and internationally. We are particularly delighted that some of our honorary degrees have been conferred upon our former students.

On this page you will find details of our 2026 honorary graduates, and details of honorary graduates going back to the early years of The University.

2026 honorary graduates

View the most recent honorary graduates of The University of Buckingham below:

Alan Biggins, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa

Graduation portrait of Alan Biggins Alan began his working life in the Royal Air Force and then moved into the world of computing. There he rose through the ranks to become the I.T. Manager for the Milton Keynes Development Corporation who developed the new city; which, of course, includes Bletchley Park.

Later, he became a specialist in the installation of trans-European systems. Fluent in French, stumbling in German and conversant with quite a few computer languages, his work took him to much of Europe. Having lived for many years in Buckinghamshire, and being a keen walker, Alan states he has stumbled – sometimes literally – across many once-secret wartime military sites; especially places relating to communications, computing, spies and the special forces.

Discovering how this treasure-trove of sites linked together resulted in the writing of his book ‘The Intelligence Zone’ and its sequel (see www.theintelligencezone.com). These deal with how discoveries and inventions made in the local area were not only key to victory in the war, but led to the modern Information Age.

Alan now talks at many places about this sadly neglected aspect of the local, world-changing, history. That has led to friends at The University of Buckingham inviting him to set up a postgraduate course in Intelligence History and honouring him with today’s doctorate – for which he expresses his thanks. Alan plans in retirement to brush up on his knowledge of German beer. He has found a new, rich, vocation spreading the word of what he considers to be ‘The greatest story never told.’

Lionel Weston, Fellowship of The University of Buckingham, honoris causa

Graduation portrait photograph of Lionel Weston Lionel was born in Much Wenlock during the winter of 1947 and spent his early childhood in Craven Arms with his parents and two older sisters. The family later moved to Bedford when his father was promoted to a senior role with the Post Office Telephones. Lionel attended Queen’s Park Primary School before moving on to Bedford Modern School, having successfully passed the 12+. While there, he admits that he may have devoted more time to sport than to academic study.

On leaving school, Lionel trained as a PE teacher at Loughborough Colleges, where he continued to combine his love of sport with teaching. In his final year he became engaged to Maggie and, while on the annual rugby tour of the Scottish Borders, won a medal at the Melrose Sevens.

During that same tour he was offered his first teaching post by the Rector of Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow. Lionel and Maggie married that summer and moved north, where they enjoyed three very happy years. While living in Scotland, Lionel played rugby for West of Scotland Rugby Club and in 1972 was selected to represent England against France in Paris and Scotland at Murrayfield.

He later spent seven years teaching at Whitgift School and playing for Rosslyn Park. With a young family, he then moved to Stowe School, where he was appointed Director of Sport. Lionel and Maggie spent 30 fulfilling years at Stowe, including 13 years as a Housemaster, and were blessed with three children. Lionel retired in 2008, after which he and Maggie continued to work for a further ten years in student welfare at The University of Buckingham.

David Wilson, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

Graduation portrait photo of David Wilson David Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University and an award-winning author, podcaster, TV and radio presenter. He is a National Teaching Fellow of England and Wales and the author of 25 books about crime and punishment – his most recent is A History of Modern Britain in 20 Murders (Sphere).

In 2017 he won the Broadcast and Royal Television Society Awards for his Channel 4 documentary Interview with a Murderer, and he regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning. He presented four series of David Wilson’s Crime Files for BBC Scotland and three series of In the Footsteps of Killers for Channel 4.

On leaving Cambridge University he was recruited directly into H M Prison Service as a Prison Governor – beginning his career at HMP Wormwood Scrubs as Assistant Governor (under Training). He would go on to work at HMPs Grendon and Woodhill, where he helped to design and then managed the two units for the 12 most violent and disruptive prisoners in the penal system – experiences which brought him into contact with many recent British serial killers.

Latterly he was the Head of Prison Officer Training for England and Wales before returning to academia. He is the former Vice Chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform, the current Vice President of New Bridge and Chairman of The Friends of HMP Grendon – each registered charities which, in different ways, seek to promote a better understanding of our penal system.

Previous honorary graduates

Details of honorary graduates going back to the early years of the University can be found below:

Honorary graduates 2021-2025