Glittering prizes

Nancy Rothwell will be the 169th presenter of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures this month.

Anthony King, 64, professor in the department of government at Essex University, has been invited to give the Hamlyn Lectures, the legal equivalent of the Reith Lectures, in 2000. He will address the question "Does Britain still have a constitution?" Olivia de Havilland, 82, the only surviving star of the film Gone with the Wind, has received an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Hertfordshire.

Also awarded honorary degrees by the university are: former captain of Tottenham Hotspur Gary Mabbutt (MSc); Pat Barker, author of the Regeneration trilogy of novels (DLitt); Heather Coates, former head of the university's physiotherapy department (MSc); Rev Bill Taylor, former university chaplain (MA); Michael Elves, director of Glaxo Wellcome's Office of Scientific and Educational Affairs (DSc); Sir Colin Chandler, chairman of Vickers plc, (DSc); Rom Karen, chairman of industrial designers Ogle Design Limited (DLitt); Jan Pentreath, chief scientist and director of strategy for the Environment Agency (DSc); Norman Thomas, visiting professor of humanities (DLitt).

The Right Reverend James Thompson, bishop of Bath and Wells, has received an honorary degree of doctor of letters from the University of Bath. Also honoured are: Richard Giordano, chairman of BG plc, (DJur) and business executive Ian Hay Davison (DJur).

Doug Brown, twice Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, receives an honorary degree from Keele.