Actor and writer John Cleese and England football hero Sir Bobby Charlton will receive honorary degrees at the first graduation ceremonies of our 50th anniversary year.

The 11 ceremonies will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (28 to 30 June). His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex will officiate as Chancellor at four ceremonies on Tuesday 28 June (12.30pm and 3pm) and Wednesday 29 June (10am and 12.30pm).

The University of Bath’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, said:

The University’s award ceremonies are a wonderful occasion for all involved, particularly as we embark on our 50th anniversary celebration year. Our graduating students join a community of over 100,000 alumni living and working across the world, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements.

Honorary graduands

14 honorary graduands will receive degrees. Read orations on our honorary graduands.

Sir Bobby Charlton CBE - Doctor of Laws - Ceremony 1, Tuesday 28 June at 10am

Legendary footballer and England 1966 World Cup winner; founder of Find a Better Way charity which funds research at the University to improve landmine detection.

John Cleese - Doctor of Clinical Psychology - Tuesday 28 June at 3pm

Iconic actor, comedian, writer and film producer best known for writing and performing in the sketch show Monty Python’s Flying Circus and the four Monty Python films, together with co-writing and starring in the sitcom Fawlty Towers. He has co-written two books on psychology exploring families and relationships.

Dr Randal Newcomb - Doctor of Laws - Tuesday 28 June at 10am

President and Chief Executive Officer of Humanity United, a social investment organization committed to advancing human freedom and building the conditions for lasting peace in some of the most challenging environments in the world

Lord Foster of Bath - Doctor of Laws - Tuesday 28 June at 12.30pm

MP for Bath for five general elections, a prominent member of the Liberal Democrat Party and Deputy Chief Whip until retirement from the House of Commons in 2015.

Stephen Kelly - Doctor of Business Administration - Wednesday 29 June at 10am

Bath alumnus, former government Chief Operating Officer and now Chief Executive Officer of Sage, Britain’s largest technology company; also appointed by Prime Minister David Cameron to the Government’s Business Ambassador network.

Elizabeth Bingham OBE - Doctor of Laws - Wednesday 29 June at 10am

Managing Partner for Talent in the UK and Ireland at professional service firm EY. She champions diversity, inclusion and social mobility within the workplace, and was awarded an OBE for services to equality in the workplace.

Kirit Patel MBE - Doctor of Business Administration - Wednesday 29 June at 12.30pm

One of the UK’s most recognised pharmacy entrepreneurs, growing his company Day Lewis Pharmacy to over 270 pharmacies in the UK. He holds an MBE for his contribution to pharmacy and public service.

David Medlock - Doctor of Engineering - Wednesday 29 June at 3pm

Chairman of Sitec Ltd engineering design company and Managing Trustee of the Medlock Charitable Trust. The Trust has contributed over £30 million to organisations across the UK, including over £1 million to both the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the University, most recently supporting research to investigate rehabilitation in military amputees. He was Pro-Chancellor and Council member at the University from 2003 to 2014.

Dr Fiona Marshall - Doctor of Science - Wednesday 29 June at 5.15pm

Bath alumna and co-founder of biotech company Heptares, running clinical trials for drugs developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, cancer and migraine. Dr Marshall is Chief Scientific Officer at Heptares and CSO and Executive Vice President for new owner, Sosei Group Corporation, which bought the firm for $400 million.

Professor Massimo Banzi - Doctor of Education - Thursday 30 June at 10am

One of the co-creators of Arduino, the first micro-controller board entirely developed as open source, the brain for thousands of projects, from everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. It is at the core of educational programmes in schools and universities - here at Bath, in the UK and internationally.

Dr Michael Painting - Doctor of Music - Thursday 30 June at 12.30pm

Bath alumnus and former HR Manager at the University is co-founder of the esteemed University Chamber Choir of which he has been conductor and musical director for the past 40 years.

Neelie Kroes - Doctor of Laws - Thursday 30 June at 3pm

EU Commissioner for Digital Agenda until 2014. She was previously a Dutch MP and Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. She has been a board member of many of the Netherland’s biggest companies and is a member of the financial committee of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Roger Whorrod OBE and Sue Whorrod - Degree of Doctor of Engineering and Doctor of Health respectively - Thursday 30 June at 5.15pm

Roger was one of Bath’s first graduates in engineering and built his own company manufacturing electrical equipment, achieving a £20 million turnover. His wife Sue Whorrod began her career as a nurse, and worked as a Neighbourhood Nurse Manager. They are now committed philanthropists, supporting the development of students and early career researchers at the University. Roger was awarded an OBE for services to philanthropy in higher education.

The ceremonies will be preceded by a public procession of the University’s senior officers and academics, joined by the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Paul Crossley, at the first ceremony to highlight our civic links.