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Novelist Philippa Gregory receives her 50th anniversary fellowship from the Vice-Chancellor

Former Registrar and Secretary Dr Geoff Lockwood receives his 50th anniversary fellowship from the Vice-Chancellor

At the final celebration of its 50th anniversary this year, Sussex awarded fellowships to people associated with the University who have made a distinguished contribution in any field or activity since its foundation in 1961.

Historical novelist Dr Philippa Gregory joined fellow recipients including BBC radio broadcaster Robin Lustig, environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, and the Astronomer Royal Professor Lord (Martin) Rees for a special presentation ceremony yesterday (13 September).  

In total nine Fellows of the Royal Society – all alumni, honorary graduates or former staff of Sussex - also received Sussex fellowships.

Presenting the awards, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said that the array of people being honoured illustrated the remarkable impact Sussex has had in its first 50 years: “We are now looking forward to the next 50 years, to develop and grow the University in the same ambitious spirit as in its founding.”

Others who received certificates at the ceremony on campus included:

• Tom Druitt, who runs the Big Lemon bus service to the University campus;
• Michael Fuller, Chief Constable of Kent Police 2004-10, who has a degree in Social Psychology from Sussex;
• Sir Peter Jonas, former director of both the English National Opera and the Bavarian State Opera;
• Sean Phelan, the creator of Multimap;
• and Sussex graduate Dr Jamie Shea, who received worldwide attention in 1999 during the Kosovo War, when he served as the spokesperson for NATO.

Fellowships were also awarded to geneticist Professor Adrian Bird; Sussex geography alumna Samantha Cameron, who was awarded an MBE in 2005 for her conservation and development work in Madagascar; science writer Dr John Gribbin; Professor Sir Richard Jolly, a leading development economist who was director of the Institute of Development Studies (based on the Sussex campus) from 1972-81; and economist Professor Michael Lipton.

Nominations were invited from students, staff, alumni and friends of the University.

The full list of recipients is: Professor Firdous Azim, Professor Sir John Ball, Professor Adrian Bird, Campbell Black, Samantha Cameron, Professor Robert Chambers, Professor David Clary, Tom Druitt, Dr Alison Evans, Michael Fuller, Professor Paul Gilroy, Professor Fred Gray, Dr Philippa Gregory, Dr John Gribbin, Peter Hofman, Professor Sir Richard Jolly, Sir Peter Jonas, Professor Calestous Juma, Professor Michael Land, Professor Michael Lipton, Dr Geoff Lockwood, Robin Lustig, Professor Georgina Mace, Professor Margaret McGowan, Mary McMurray, Professor Robin Milner-Gulland, Professor Michael Mingos, Professor John Murrell, Professor Michael Pendlebury, Sean Phelan, Jonathon Porritt, Lord (Martin) Rees, Professor Christopher Sachrajda, Dr Jamie Shea, Professor Dorothy Sheridan, Professor Barry Supple, Professor Sir Michael Thompson, Professor Edward Timms, Professor John Toland, Professor Peter Townsend, Professor Nick von Tunzelmann, Professor Dame Helen Wallace, Beryl Williams and Professor Donald Winch.