Degree Ceremonies

The last three days there have been degree ceremonies taking place. It is one of the best times of the year in my view - everyone dressed up, gowns and boards, general celebration. This year I only attended one ceremony as a "processional marshal" which basically means herding everyone onto the stage and into the right seat. It was the last ceremony of the day and the week and consequently some on the platform party had heard the VC and Chancellor's speeches for the umpteenth time. Imran Khan was a little bit overshadowed today as there were two honorarys and one of them was a very powerful communicator - Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik. He was joined on stage by Mo Ibrahim a former PG student who became a billionaire and is funding massive investment in Africa. Quite contrasting to have aSudanese, a Pakistani and a Dewsbury local boy made good. They were a great advert for the University's values. I didn't see Look North last night (never watch it) so don't know whether Harry and Christa had the same gravitas the day before. Probably better publicity but possibly not as thought provoking as these guys.