American Idol creator Simon Fuller and disability campaigner Alison Lapper MBE are to receive top honours from the University of Brighton.
As well as creating American TV’s most successful show, Mr Fuller has managed David Beckham, the Spice Girls, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Andy Murray, Lewis Hamilton, Annie Lennox and many more household names.
He is to receive an honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of his major contribution to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Simon, who was born in Hastings and whose grandfather was a headmaster in the town, is due to receive his doctorate on Thursday, 31 July, during the university’s summer graduation awards at the Brighton Dome.
He will be recognised for his business acumen and his associations with charitable initiatives including Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Save The Children, The Prince’s Trust, The United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and Comic Relief. He is also a founding trustee of Malaria No More.
University alumni Alison Lapper will receive an honorary Doctor of Arts (on 28 July) for her major contribution to the arts and as an ambassador for those with disabilities.
Born without arms and with shortened legs, Alison uses photography, digital imaging and painting to question physical normality and beauty.
She is perhaps best known as the subject of Marc Quinn’s statue Alison Lapper Pregnant which stood on the fourth plinth of Trafalgar Square from 2005 to 2007.
She studied at the University of Brighton and graduated with a first class honours degree in Fine Art in 1993. She is a member of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World.
In 2000, Alison gave birth to her son Parys and both have featured in the ongoing BBC television documentary Child of Our Time. Alison will receive her doctorate on 28 July.
Eight other honorary awards will be presented during the week from 25 July to 1 August to recipients prominent in a range of professions from medicine to films.
Professor Dame Valerie Beral DBE, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford, will receive a Doctor of Medicine of the universities of Brighton and Sussex (25 July) in recognition of her major contribution to medicine. She is Principal Investigator for the Million Women Study that investigates the effect of women’s lifestyle on health.
Wolfgang Suschitzky, Get Carter film director of photography, is to receive a Doctor of Arts (July 28) for his contribution to photography and cinematography. He became a leading light in the British documentary film movement during and after the war and he has worked on 200 films since the 1930s. He is also renowned for his photography.
Martin Faussett is to receive a Doctor of Engineering (July 29) for his major contribution to the aeronautical and automotive industries. Martin is Managing Director of Ricardo UK Ltd, which has its headquarters in Shoreham and is the largest subsidiary of Ricardo plc – a global engineering, strategic and environmental consultancy and specialist manufacturer.
Paul Bramwell, who has worked in and for the community and voluntary sector for 25 years will become an Honorary Fellow (29 July). A trustee and current chair of Speak Out which provides advocacy for adults with learning disabilities, Paul is a self-employed consultant and his award is in recognition of his major contribution to work in the voluntary sector and his contribution to the work of the Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp).
Dame Alison Peacock DBE is being awarded a Doctor of Letters (30 July) for her major contribution to the field of education and her participation in collaborative research. Alison is co-author of Creating Learning without Limits (2012) – research which explores an alternative improvement agenda; identifying key dispositions for school leadership where every child and adult is valued and where no one is labelled by so-called ‘ability’.
Anji Hunter will receive a Doctor of Letters (30 July) in recognition of her contributions to communications and public affairs management. The former Director of Government Relations for Tony Blair and former Director of Communications for BP, Anji is another University of Brighton high-profile alumni, graduating in 1988 with a first in history and English. She worked as Tony Blair’s political assistant and later became Director of Government Relations for Blair’s government in 1997.
Liz Redfern will be awarded a Doctor of Science (31 July) for her major contribution to the NHS and to the education of nurses and other health professionals. Liz joined the NHS in 1970 and later became Chief Nurse for England. She acquired a degree in education, and trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and a coach. She completed the Cabinet Office Top Manager Programme in 2008 and in 2009 Liz was awarded a CBE for her services to nursing and healthcare.
John Shaw will be presented with a Masters of Law (1 August) in recognition of his major contribution in the field of urban and economic regeneration. John has been a major contributor to the regeneration of Hastings and is a strong supporter of the establishment and development of the University of Brighton in Hastings. John set up Sea Space, the company which delivered the economic regeneration plan for Hastings and Bexhill and has changed the urban fabric of Hastings, bringing much needed business developments and jobs.
