The Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, conferred honorary degrees at a traditional ceremony in the University's Senate House today (Monday 21 June 2004).

Honorary degrees at the University of Cambridge have a long history, dating back 500 years. One of the earliest recorded ceremonies was in 1493, when the University agreed to honour the poet John Skelton. An honorary degree is the highest honour the University can give.

The graduands this year are:

  • Dame Margaret Joan Anstee, DCMG, MA, formerly Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, Honorary Fellow of Newnham College.
  • Sir Alec Nigel Broers, PhD, ScD, FRS, FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, Fellow, and formerly Master, of Churchilll College, Honorary Fellow of Gonville and Caius and Trinity Colleges.
  • Howard Robert Horvitz, Nobel Laureate, David H Koch Professor of Biology in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, formerly of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
  • Sir David John Weatherall, FRCP, FRCPE, FRS, Regius Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the University of Oxford, formerly student of Christ Church.
  • Quentin Saxton Blake, OBE, MA, RDI, Visiting Professor in the Royal College of Art, Honorary Fellow of Downing College, Artist and Illustrator.
  • Peter Robert Lamont Brown, FBA, FRHistS, Rollins Professor of History in Princeton University.
  • David Lockwood, CBE, MA, FBA, formerly Professor of Sociology and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex, formerly University Lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and Politics and Fellow of St John's College.
  • John Philip William Dankworth, CBE, FRAM, Musician.
  • Dame Cleo Laine, Vocalist and Actress.

The day itself is declared by the University to be a 'scarlet day', when all those participating must wear full academical dress, and buildings around Cambridge fly their flags.

As the bells of the University Church ring out, processions slowly make their way around the yard of the Senate House.

The University's Statutes provide for the conferment of titles of degrees honoris causa ('as a mark of honour') on "members of the Royal Family, British subjects who are of conspicuous merit or have done good service to the University, and foreigners of distinction" (Statute B.IV).

Proposals are considered annually by the University's Council. Any person may write to the Vice-Chancellor, who also consults Faculty Boards and the Council itself. These proposals, amounting to several dozen each year, are reviewed by a committee of the Council, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, which makes recommendations to the Council.

After final consideration of a short-list (and of course after clearing, in confidence, with those proposed that they are willing for their names to go forward), nominations are published early in the calendar year. About nine distinguished persons are nominated each year. In most cases, the nominations are approved after a short time and the preparations for the ceremony can begin.


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