Honorary Fellows 2004
Dr Frank Cottrell Boyce
For outstanding contribution to the film industry
Frank has written screenplays for many films, including 24 Hour Party People and Hilary and Jackie, and is described by film director and LJMU Fellow, Alex Cox, as Britain’s “best and brightest screenwriter.”
Read the oration for Frank Cottrell Boyce.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
For the continual pursuance of peace
In 1989, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognised for his concern for global environmental problems. His Holiness has travelled to more than 67 countries spanning six continents.
He has received over 150 awards, honorary doctorates and prizes, in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.
He has also authored or co-authored more than 110 books.
Since the mid-1980’s, His Holiness has begun a dialogue with modern scientists, mainly in the fields of psychology, neurobiology, quantum physics and cosmology. This led to an historic collaboration between Buddhist monks and world-renowned scientists in trying to help individuals achieve peace of mind.
Claire Dove OBE
For outstanding contribution to reducing social exclusion in Liverpool and in particular promoting the role of women in relation to new technologies
Liverpool-born Claire is the founder and Chief Executive of the Blackburne House Group, which promotes the role of women through education and training, and enables women most at risk of social exclusion to get the skills and experience they need to secure employment. Claire’s contribution to women’s education has been acknowledged at many levels.
In 1992, she received an MBE for services to local regeneration in general and in particular women’s education and in May 2013, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. In 2013, she received an OBE for services to social enterprise.
Read the oration for Claire Dove.
Sue Johnston OBE
For services to the dramatic arts
Sue first came to the nation’s attention as Sheila Grant in Brookside in 1988 and has since proved herself to be a versatile actress, with leading roles in series as diverse as Goodbye Cruel World, The Royle Family and Waking the Dead. She has received countless commendations including the British Comedy Awards, BAFTA nominations, Royal Television Awards and the Scouseology Awards.
In 2009, she received an OBE for services to drama. She has supported many charitable causes including the Breakthrough Cancer Campaign, Comic Relief and the Kirsty Howard Appeal.
Read the oration for Sue Johnston.
Gillian Reynolds MBE
For outstanding contribution to media and the arts
Radio City’s founding programme controller has enjoyed a successful broadcasting career spanning nearly 40 years. Gillian was involved in the group which organised the events during Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Winner of the Media Society’s Gold Award, she was also made the first Fellow of the Radio Academy in 1990 and a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 1996. She received an MBE for services to broadcasting in 1999.
Read the oration for Gillian Reynolds.
Dr John Roberts CBE
For services to industry
John retired from the post of Chief Executive of United Utilities in 2006, a position he had held since 1999. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. In 2005, he was awarded a CBE and was made a Doctor of Engineering by the University of Liverpool.
He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside and Chairman of the Royal Bank of Canada (Europe) Limited, the Halite Energy Group Limited, Blue Bay Asset Management Limited and BlackRock New Energy Investment Trust.
Read the oration for Dr John Roberts.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
For outstanding contribution to athletics
Tanni is one of Britain’s best-known Paralympians and her outstanding medal tally includes nine Paralympic gold medals (four each in Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000, with one in Atlanta 1996 and a further two in Athens 2004), four Silvers (one at Barcelona, three in Atlanta), and a Bronze (Seoul 1988). She won Gold at 200m, 400m and 800m and Silver at 1500m in the 2001 European Wheelchair Athletics Championships and has also won the London Marathon six times.
In 2000, Tanni was awarded an OBE for services to athletics, and took third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the year. In the following year, she was admitted to the World Sports Academy and chosen as Welsh Sportswoman and Welsh Woman of the Year.
Read the oration for Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
