Press Release: Honorary Degrees to be awarded on 27 and 28 February 2009

24 February 2009

Tuesday 24 February 2009

Sir Martin Jacomb, Chancellor of The University of Buckingham, will confer Honorary Degrees on the following at the graduation ceremonies to be held on 27 and 28 February at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, in Buckingham:

  • The Rt.Hon. Frank Field MP (Doctor of Science)
  • Professor Sir Martin Evans (Doctor of Science)
  • Sir Sidney Kentridge (Doctor of Laws)
  • Admiral Sir John Brigstocke (Doctor of the University)

At the first ceremony beginning at 15:00 on Friday 27 February, Professor Sir Martin Evans will have his degree conferred upon him.

Sir John Brigstocke and Sir Sidney Kentridge will have their degrees conferred upon them at the second ceremony, held on Saturday 28 February, beginning at 11:00.

The Rt. Hon. Frank Field MP will have his degree conferred upon him at the afternoon ceremony on 28 February, beginning at 15:00.

There will be a photo opportunity during each ceremony.

Notes to Editors:

The Rt.Hon. Frank Field MP studied Economics at the University of Hull. Between 1969 and 1979 Frank Field was the Director of the Child Poverty Action Group, and was later Director of the Low Pay Unit. Frank Field has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Birkenhead since 1979. Following the 1997 election, Mr Field joined the Government as the Minister of Welfare Reform and became a Privy Councillor in 1997. Since 2005 The Rt.Hon. Frank Field has remained on the backbenches.

Professor Sir Martin Evans gained his BA in Biochemistry from Christ College, University of Cambridge in 1963. Sir Martin was the first scientist to identify embryonic stem cells and has carried out pioneering work to develop therapy for cystic fibrosis and breast cancer. In 2004, he was knighted for his services to medical science. He was named as one of “10 Britons who changed our world”. In 2007 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine along with two US-based scientists.

Sir Sydney Kentridge KCMG QC took his BA at the University of Witwatersrand. After four years of war service with the South African forces, he took First Class Honours in Jurisprudence. He was appointed SC (Senior Counsel) in 1965 and frequently appeared for leaders of the anti-apartheid movement. His clients included Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In 1984 he became a Queen’s Counsel and in 1999 was appointed KCMG by the Queen.

Admiral Sir John Brigstocke was educated at Marlborough College and Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He joined the Royal Navy in 1962. He is a former 2nd Sea Lord and a member of the Admiralty Board. Ashore, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral President of the Royal Naval College Greenwich and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command. Sir John is presently Chairman of NHS East Midlands. He is a former Chairman of Council at the University and was knighted in 1997 .