There will be three years’ of graduating students and Honorary Graduates, as well as a new University Chancellor to be sworn in during three days of ceremonies at the Lincoln landmark.
Around 4,500 visitors are expected to visit the city between 26 and 28 July 2022 to take part in the ceremonies at Lincoln Cathedral, with a celebration after each ceremony on the BGU campus.
Graduands from the class of 2022 will be joined by graduates from years 2021 and 2020 who will be able to don their gowns at the Cathedral following on from their virtual graduation ceremonies held at the height of the COVID pandemic.
A number of honorary graduates from 2020 and 2021 will be in attendance, including Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam and Susan Hollingworth, who received honorary doctorates in 2021, Phil Neale OBE, Prue Goodwin and Simon Winston BEM who received honorary doctorates in 2020, and Mike Johnson MBE who received a distinguished honorary fellowship in 2020.
This year, BGU is celebrating its 160th anniversary as an educational establishment, and a decade since it was granted full university status. In this year of celebration, the University will also say goodbye to its first ever Chancellor, Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, who has been the ceremonial head of BGU since 2008. Renowned historian and author Dr Tracy Borman will be formally welcomed as the new Chancellor, officially sworn in at Lincoln Cathedral on 28 July 2022.
As part of the 2022 graduation ceremonies, BGU will also be awarding honorary degrees to five prominent figures to recognise significant achievements in their areas of work.
Honorary doctorates will be awarded to:
James Holland FRHistS
Internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. James is the author of a number of best-selling histories and has presented and written a large number of television programmes and series.
Phil Beadle
Award-winning teacher and author with a long history of delivering transformation in English results in schools in challenging circumstances. James is a former winner of the Secondary Teacher of the Year Award in the National Teaching Awards, has written for every broadsheet newspaper in the UK, has been awarded two Royal Television Society Awards and has authored ten books about teaching and learning.
Professor David Stocker MA, DLitt, FSA, MCIfA
Archaeologist, art- and architectural-historian and writer. David has worked for archaeological charities in York and Lincolnshire and English Heritage, has been a member of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s East Midlands Committee, Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and is currently CBA nominee to the Council of the National Trust and President of the Lincoln Record Society.
Tamsin Little OBE, FGSM, Hon RAM, ARCM (Hons)
Award-winning solo concert violinist who has toured the globe for three decades as a soloist and with acclaimed international orchestras. Tamsin has made 45 commercial recordings, appeared on and made television and radio programmes, has performed twice for the Queen, and has been an ambassador for the importance of education and Arts in the UK.
A distinguished honorary fellowship will also be awarded to:
Gary Headland DL MA MBA FIoD
Current CEO of Active Learning, and former CEO of the Lincoln College Group. Gary is the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lincolnshire, President of the Royal British Legion in Lincolnshire, Chair of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and non-executive director of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The Rev’d Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice-Chancellor of BGU, said: “This year’s graduation ceremony definitely feels extra special.
“In addition to celebrating the achievements of our graduands from the class of 2022 who have shown incredible resilience while learning throughout the pandemic, I’m delighted we are able to invite our graduates who had virtual graduations back to Lincoln for an in-person celebration in our 160th anniversary year.
“The BGU family also grows a little larger in welcoming five honorary graduates who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from their respective fields, whose stories and achievements will no doubt inspire our students here today and in the future.
“Finally, as the University swears in our new Chancellor, Dr Tracy Borman, I would like to extend my gratitude to our outgoing Chancellor Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas for her work, advocacy and ideas during her years in post.”