Rain could not dampen the excitement at our Degree Congregation awards ceremonies taking place last week.
The number of students gaining an award was 2,430 (including students completing their course in February). It is the largest cohort to graduate at the University since the institution was founded more than 100 years ago.
More than 1,100 students attended the ceremonies at Bolton's historic Victoria Hall. Guests included the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Anthony Connell; the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Edith Conn; the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Norman Stoller; heads of the Salvation Army in Greater Manchester and Merseyside; university governors and leading figures from education across Bolton and the region.
Honorary awards were conferred on:
Howard Goodall (Honorary Doctorate) A composer/musician, best known for composing a number of television themes including Blackadder and the Vicar of Dibley, Howard Goodall also composed the television score for The Gathering Storm (2003) which received a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Score. He composed a new work for the Bolton Smithills School Senior Band to launch the new Special Performing Arts College status of the school
Stass Paraskos (Honorary Doctorate) Stass Paraskos is an internationally known artist, born in Cyprus where he established a School of Art, although much of his life has been spent teaching and working in England. He has an international reputation as an educator and has exhibited widely, including Cyprus, Britain, Greece, the USA, Brazil, India and Denmark.
Simon Kelner (Honorary Doctorate) Editor-in-chief of the Independent since 1998, Simon Kelner began career as trainee reporter for the Neath Guardian
(1976-9) and sports reporter for Extel (1979-80). Sports editor of The Independent (1986-9) and features editor (1995-6). Editor of Night and Day Magazine, Mail on Sunday (1996-8). Editor of the Year, What the Papers Say Awards (1999).
David Ball (Honorary Doctorate) David Ball has worked closely with the University on joint projects over a number of years. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE). A Bolton man, he was also a leader of manufacturing companies in Bolton for some 22 years, including Managing Director of Webster Drives Ltd and the Managing Director of Rotocld Ltd both on Folds Road, Bolton. He is currently the Chairman of the Greater Manchester Area of the IMechE, and the Chairman of the Power Industries Division North West Centre of the IMechE.
Bruce Cain (Honorary Masters) Bruce Cain has worked with the University for 17 years as Director of Human Resources and will be awarded an honorary master's for services to the university, marking his retirement.
Vice Chancellor Dr George Holmes said: 'We are proud to announce that this is the largest cohort so far to graduate from the University of Bolton. It has been an outstanding year for us with international and campus expansion and investment. But most of all we are proud of the hard work of our students who richly deserve this success. We welcome them all into a lifelong relationship with this University as they progress in their professional careers.'
In his address the Vice Chancellor paid tribute to the graduates, and the university staff for an exceptional year in the life of the university.
The University's international presence featured strongly in the Vice Chanellor's speech.
'The new branch campus in the United Arab Emirates is another fantastic addition to our international university community;' said the Vice-Chancellor. 'It opens in September and will offer a range of courses and the opportunity for student and academic exchanges.'
The audience of graduates, families, VIPs and friends of the University were also reminded of University of Bolton graduation ceremonies taking place this summer in Vietnam, Shanghai and Malaysia.
The University welcomed four graduates from Vietnam who had taken their course there but had chosen to make the trip of a lifetime to England and to the University to share their graduation at the home campus.
For the first time a student from Germany graduated with an MBA (Small Business Award) and the University celebrated the awarding of nine PhDs - the highest award conferred at the graduation ceremonies.
Pictured are, from top, graduates sheltering from the rain, the dregree congregation assembled, Howard Goodall, Simon Kelner and graduates from Vietnam who travelled from their home country to take part in their University's degree congregation