A Supreme Court judge, football leader, aviation boss, charity founder and two religious leaders all received honorary awards at the University of Chichester this week.
They graduated alongside hundreds of students in ceremonies held at Chichester Cathedral this week, each receiving an honorary degree, with is an academic title given by a university to recognise a person’s major life achievements and contributions to society.
The next President of the Supreme Court – who will take up his new role in January 2027 – was honoured with a Doctorate of Laws. Lord Briggs of Westbourne was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the law, public service and legal education, and said: “It is very special to be honoured in the city near to which I have lived since I was six years old, and I’m delighted to have been able to play a part in promoting a young and up-and-coming law faculty.”
Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate was recognised with an Honorary Doctor of Public Administration, and said he was delighted to receive the award from ‘the local university to Gatwick Airport’.
Rachel Bentley OBE, the humanitarian and co-founder of Chichester-based Children on the Edge charity, was ‘honoured’ to receive the award of Honorary Doctor of Education, in recognition of her work helping some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
Jack Pearce MBE was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sport to in recognition of his exceptional contribution to football, sports leadership and community development over more than five decades, including his long-standing association with Bognor Regis Town Football Club.
An Honorary Doctor of Divinity was awarded to His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and spiritual leader of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, and also to the Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, in recognition of his contributions to pastoral leadership, prison ministry, ecumenical engagement and public service.
Each year the University of Chichester awards honorary degrees to those who have made a significant contribution in their field – and past recipients have included actor Hugh Bonneville, endurance athlete Russ Cook, writer David Sedaris and Blondie drummer Clem Burke.