Newcastle University

The artist responsible for the region's world famous landmark Angel of the North is to be honoured by Newcastle University.

Antony Gormley OBE will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) at a ceremony in the University on Friday 7 May 2004.

Writer and broadcaster, Miriam Stoppard, the founder and former Managing Director of software giant Sage, Graham Wylie, Nobel Laureate, Sir John Sulston, and international rock art expert – and former headteacher of Belford and Rothbury Middle Schools – Stan Beckensall will also be honoured at the ceremony.

Dr Miriam Stoppard, who trained as a doctor at King's College, Newcastle – which later became the University – in the 1960s, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), as will Graham Wylie, himself a Newcastle University graduate. Mr Wylie founded Sage as a result of a piece of accounting software he developed while studying Computing Science and Statistics at the University, graduating in 1980.

The former Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre for Genome Research, Sir John Sulston, was a leading figure in the development of DNA analysis and played a pivotal role in the Human Genome Project. He will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

Stan Beckensall came to Northumberland to train teachers at Alnwick College of Education in 1966, and was later head teacher of two Northumberland schools, but his passion in life is prehistoric rock art. In 2003, he donated his extensive Northumberland rock art archive to the University. He will become an Honorary Doctor of Letters, along with Antony Gormley.

The Chancellor of Newcastle University, the Right Honourable Christopher Patten CH, will confer the honorary degrees at a ceremony to be held in the University on Friday, 7 May 2004.

Dr John Hogan, Registrar of Newcastle University, said: 'The University is immensely proud of its links with so many of the North East's most notable figures, so we are especially pleased to be able to honour their achievements in this way'.

Further information about the ceremony, and the Honorary Graduands, will be issued nearer the time.

ENDS

For further information contact Melanie Reed in the University Press Office on +44 (0) 191 222 5791; e-mail press.office@ncl.ac.uk