Two Honorary MAs awarded for outstanding service

The Vice-Chancellor presided over the first session of today’s degree congregation in the Senate-House to confer the degrees on Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis and Mr Allan Brigham

Following a distinguished military career with the Gurkhas – ending as Commander of the Brigade – Sir Miles Hunt-Davis joined the Household of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

When Sir Miles Hunt-Davis became Prince Philip’s Private Secretary in 1993, he became a vital link between the Chancellor and his University.

Since then Sir Miles has developed both a knowledge of the University and Colleges in all their complexity, and a great affection for Cambridge.

For 16 years he has supported the Chancellor not only in the more visible ceremonial aspects of the role (including more than fifty visits to the University), but also in many of the Chancellor’s duties of adjudication in certain matters, and acting as Visitor of eleven of the Colleges.

Sir Miles has been a valued ally of the University, working on our behalf and acting as our ambassador, and we are pleased to be able to recognise that quiet and unsung service.

Allan Brigham, whose day job for the past 30 years is as a road sweeper for Cambridge City Council, is a well-known local historian and tour guide who campaigns for better knowledge of Cambridge heritage by Cambridge residents.

He researches Cambridge history and takes popular guided walks of lesser-known areas of the city such as Romsey and Mill Road (as well as the city centre), and creates walking tours of Cambridge for the internet.

He has a history degree from the University of Sheffield and uses the Cambridgeshire Collection to research his tours.

His research has included the history of brooms, the cinemas of Cambridge, Cambridge industrial history and Cambridge working class holidays.

He has written for local history journals and The Guardian, and regularly speaks at schools and community groups on local history and environmental/heritage issues.

Allan has been working with the University’s Community Affairs team for some time. He is a ‘critical friend’ reminding us that town-gown divisions do still exist in some measure, and advising the University on the best way to conquer these.

He sits on the steering group for the Festival of Ideas and was central to the creation of the first Festival.

He is Chair of the Friends of Cambridge and County Folk Museum and a keen supporter of Kettle’s Yard.

While Honorary doctorates are awarded each year to eminent people from around the world in academia, public life, religion and music, the Honorary MA degree is awarded more rarely, and specifically for outstanding service to the University and the City.