Honorary degrees

University of Bath

Doctor of Arts: Nick Park, director at Aardman Animations Limited and creator of the Wallace and Gromit characters.

Thames Valley University An honorary professorship was awarded to Laurie Taylor, former professor of sociology at the University of York, visiting professor at Birkbeck College (1993) author, broadcaster and journalist.

Staffordshire University

DLitt: James Dyson, inventor, designer, entrepreneur.

DSc: Sabree Salleh, dean of the school of sports and recreation at the Institut Teknologi Mara in Malaysia.

DTech: Ernest Shannon, president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, former group director of development for Global Gas, HQ director of engineering research at British Gas; Peter Cochrane, head of advanced research at British Telecom laboratories.

LLD: Charles Kelly, former chief constable of Staffordshire.

MUniv: Colin Wilkinson, director of nursing and operations at Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust.

University of the West of England

Honorary fellowship: Donald Marshall, former pro-director and acting director of Bristol Polytechnic, in recognition of his contribution to the work of UWE.

DLitt: Wesley Carr, dean of Westminster, senior bishop's inspector and senior selector, former dean of Bristol.

LLD: Hazel Fallon, circuit judge first with the Exeter group of courts and, from 1980 with the Bristol Group.

MA: Christopher Denys, principal of the British Old Vic Theatre School and associated director of the BOV Company.