3,000 Graduates Celebrate at Lincoln Cathedral

Thousands of students have celebrated alongside notable names in sports, entertainment, the arts, business, and academia when they collected their degree awards at Lincoln Cathedral this week.

Around 3,000 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students from the University of Lincoln’s four academic colleges graduated in the historic setting surrounded by thousands more friends, family members and well-wishers during the ceremonies. They took place between Monday 10th and Thursday 13th September 2018.

The graduation ceremonies marked the culmination of years of hard work at the University, and saw celebrations in the grounds of Lincoln Castle throughout the week.

The Lincoln graduands were joined by notable names receiving honorary degrees from the University. They included the comedian, actor and writer, Robert Webb, best known as half of the comedy double act Mitchell and Webb and TV series Peep Show. In 2017, Robert published his number one best-selling memoir, How Not To Be a Boy. He collected an Honorary Doctor of Letters. Team GB hockey player Georgie Twigg, who brought home Gold with her teammates at Rio 2016 Olympics, was awarded a Doctor of the University.

Also receiving an honorary degree was the satirical cartoonist and illustrator, Gerald Scarfe CBE, who is widely considered to be one of the most influential journalists in Great Britain. He was awarded a Doctor of Arts, while Sir Tim Smit, the Dutch-born British businessman known for his work on The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project in Cornwall, was given a Doctor of Business Administration.

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said: “Our graduation celebrations mark the achievements of our students. They have all worked incredibly hard to get to this point where they can stand proudly in front of their friends and families and collect their degree certificates.

“We are immensely proud of each and every one of our graduating students. This week has been an opportunity for them to reflect on their achievements and take stock of the next chapter in their life as graduates entering the wold or work or perhaps taking on a new academic challenge. Graduation also gives us a valuable chance to thank those who have supported them along the way – friends, family and lecturers – which makes it a very special occasion.

“We were delighted to welcome our Honorands to the stage at this year’s ceremonies; they were all nominated for excellence in their field, and to hear inspiring stories from such a diverse range of disciplines and professions was a wonderful addition to our ceremonies.”

Further honorary degree awards were given to Professor Dame Ann Dowling, who was awarded a Doctor of Engineering in recognition of her research which focuses on efficient, low emission combustion for aero and industrial gas turbines and low noise vehicles, and Professor Uta Frith, best known for her work proposing and testing major theories of autism and dyslexia. She was awarded a Doctor of Science.

Two further awards of Doctor of Arts were given to Sir John Sorrell CBE and Lady Frances Sorrell OBE. They are renowned for both their work in design and their charitable endeavours as founders and trustees of the Sorrell Foundation and the Saturday Club Trust.

In total there were 11 ceremonies throughout the week and 12,000 guests attended the celebrations.