Archbishop Tutu among six eminent individuals awarded honorary degree

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African cleric and activist, has received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of London.

The honour was conferred upon Archbishop Tutu by the Chancellor, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, at a ceremony held in the Senate House on 2 December to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the University of London in 1836.

Speaking on behalf of all six honorary graduates, Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner who studied theology at King’s College London, said: ‘I have the pleasure of speaking on behalf of all the honorary graduates in thanking this splendid institution for conferring on us its highest accolade.’

At the same ceremony, honorary degrees were conferred upon: contemporary composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH – Doctor of Music; Lord Lieutenant of Greater London and former Lord Mayor, Alderman Sir David Brewer CMG – Doctor of Science (Economics); former Anglican Primate of All Ireland, The Right Reverend The Lord Eames of Armagh – Doctor of Divinity; archaeologist Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn FBA – Doctor of Literature; and the ‘father of child psychiatry’, Professor Sir Michael Rutter – Doctor of Science (Medicine).

An audience of 450, including staff, students and alumni from all 19 Colleges of the federal University, listened to citations highlighting the achievements of each honorary graduand.

In introducing Lord Eames of Armagh, who is currently the co-chair of the Consultative Group on the Past, an independent group seeking to deal with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, Dr John McDade, Principal of Heythrop College, said: ‘How fitting it is that both Lord Eames and Archbishop Tutu should receive awards from the University on the same day, for both made significant social contributions to the healing of societies fractured by distrust and violence.’

Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, described Sir Harrison Birtwistle, whose major works include Punch and Judy and The Mask of Orpheus, as ‘without question one of the greatest living composers, and one of the most-significant figures in contemporary music of the past half-century.’

David Brewer, whose working life was spent in marine insurance, was described as ‘an exceptional man, who has devoted his life to making a difference whenever he can.’

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn and Professor Sir Michael Rutter were respectively described as ‘one of the most eminent personalities in the world of archaeology today’ and ‘a clinical academic who is widely regarded as the “father of child psychiatry”.’

Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, comments: ‘Foundation Day is one of the highlights of the University calendar and reflects the diversity, vibrancy and excellence of the federal University. I am delighted to see this year’s honorary degrees awarded to six individuals who each represent the highest achievement in their particular field.’

Read the full text of each of the citations.

For further information contact:
Andy Williamson
Head of Communications
University of London
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8020; Email: andy.williamson@london.ac.uk 

Notes:
• Foundation Day is the flagship event of the University of London at which the Chancellor, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, presides.
• The ceremony is attended by staff, students and those with long-standing connections to the University.
• The first honorary degrees were awarded on 24 June 1903 at a ceremony held at the Royal Albert Hall. Among the recipients of this honour was the current Chancellor’s great grandfather, the future George V.
• Down the decades, this accolade has been bestowed on a wide range of eminent individuals in both academic and non-academic fields. Among the list of famous signatures in the Register of Honorary Graduates is Winston Churchill, T S Eliot, Henry Moore, Margot Fonteyn and Judi Dench.
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Professor Sir Michael Rutter all have connections with King’s College London. Archbishop Tutu received his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology from King’s College London. He is also an Associate of King’s College and was a Visiting Professor in Post-Conflict Societies in 2004. Sir Harrison was previously the Henry Purcell Professor of Composition, while Sir Michael Rutter is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Sir David Brewer is a Governor of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.