News

Music leader,economist and health expert to receive Honorary Degrees

(20 December 2004)

A leading figure in the musical life of the North East, one of the region’s leading economists and one of the country’s top experts in public health are to receive Honorary Degrees from the University of Durham.

Mr David Crookes has made a massive contribution to organising and supporting music in the region. Dr John Bridge has had a long career in public, private and academic sectors and was the founding chairman of One NorthEast. Sir John Pattison has had distinguished academic career in medicine and public health.

Next month all three will receive Honorary Degrees in separate events at the University of Durham’s Winter Congregation which takes place in the magnificent surroundings of Durham Cathedral and Thursday 13 January and Friday 14 January. During the three ceremonies which will see 1200 graduates receive their degrees, mostly Masters and Doctorates, from Vice Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman, each of the three candidates will be formally conferred with their Honorary Degrees.

Mr David Crookes

Mr David Crookes will receive an Honorary Master of Music Degree in recognition of his massive contribution to music in the region. For more than 40 years, David Crookes has dedicated a huge amount of his spare time and energy helping to organise music in the region, particularly in Durham.

He has been Secretary of the Durham Choral Society since 1963, and additionally over different periods, a singer with Durham County Opera Group, North Yorkshire Chorus and St Ignatius Singers, Sunderland and singer and administrator to the Palatine Opera Group. He has facilitated further support for amateur and semi-professional performers, including University activities, through the North-Eastern Committee of the National Federation of Music Societies of which he has been both secretary and, since 2002, chairman.

Dr John Bridge

The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Law goes to Dr John Bridge who is an economist who has worked in the public, private and academic sectors for over the last 35 years.

He already holds degrees from Durham University and Indiana University. He is Chairman of Endeavour SCH PLC, a private sector consortium managing one of the largest health PFI projects in England. He is Chairman of the Land Restoration Trust, Chairman of NES General Partner Ltd and Chairman of Northern Sights Ltd. He sits on the Boards of the Tanfield Group, (Kenmore (UK) Ltd and is a non-Executive Director of Watson Burton LLP. He is a consultant of PricewaterhouseCooper LLP.

He is a visiting Professor at Durham Business School and Newcastle Business School. He was until December 2003, the founding Chairman of One NorthEast (the RDA for the North East of England) and also sat on the Boards of English Partnerships and UK Trade and Investment. He has also worked recently on Government advisory groups dealing with aviation policy and urban regeneration and was a member of the Treasury's Advisory Council for Partnerships (UK). He is Chairman of Durham Cathedral Council, and a Lay Canon of the Cathedral. He is Chairman of the Alnwick Garden Trust, regional Chairman of the National Trust for the North East and Yorkshire, Chairman of the Calvert Trust Kielder and Chairman of the Spirit of Enterprise.

Sir John Pattison

An Honorary Doctorate of Science will be bestowed upon Sir John Pattison who is one of the best known personalities in the field of Medicine who began his academic training at Barnard Castle School in County Durham before he qualified in Medicine at the University of Oxford in 1968.

During his distinguished career he has held the posts of Professor of Medical Microbiology at University College London, Dean of UCL Medical School until 1998 and Vice Provost of UCL in 1994. He was Chairman of the Physiological Medicine and Infection Board at the Medical Research Council from 1992 to 1995 and has held a number of honorary appointments including the current positions of Honorary Consultant at the Public Health Laboratory Service and University College Hospitals NHS Trust.

From 1995 to 1999 he was chairman of the Government's advisory committee on BSE and CJD and in 1996 broke the news about the first human cases of variant CJD. He is currently the Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health in England but at times in his 5 years there he has also been responsible for IT and Genetics. He was knighted in 1998 for his services to Medicine.

The Honorary Degree ceremonies take place as follows :

11.00 a.m. Thursday 13th January 2005 Mr David Crookes MMus

2.00 p.m. Thursday 13th January 2005 Sir John Pattison DSc

11.00 a.m. Friday 14th January 200 Dr John Bridge DCL

Inside the Cathedral, all three recipients will take part in a formal gowned academic procession of University Staff and civic dignitaries. Each will be presented to Vice Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman - Dr Bridge and Sir John by the Public Orator Professor David Fuller and Mr Crookes by Professor Peter Manning the Head of Music. The presentation speech outlines the achievements and qualities of each individual in support of their nomination for an Honorary Degree.

Media enquiries to: Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Office, University of Durham Tel 0191 334 6078 e-mail : t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk

Note to Editors : Detailed arrangements for media coverage of the three Honorary Degree events will be announced nearer the date. Interviews/photos etc will be facilitated before each ceremony.