Winchester University graduation ceremonies this month

Students who finished their studies last year during the pandemic finally have a chance to graduate at the cathedral.

More than 2,000 whose ceremonies were postponed last autumn due to Covid-19 restrictions, will graduate over 17 Covid-safe ceremonies – the majority of which will be presided over by Chancellor of the University Alan Titchmarsh.

Graduands and their guests will be attending in person and virtually. Face coverings are mandatory in the socially-distanced ceremonies and all in-person attendees are required to have a negative Covid test in the 24 hours before the ceremony.

"I am always incredibly proud of our graduates and am looking forward to celebrating their success at Graduation. This is especially true this year, when students completed their final year of study in such challenging and extraordinary times. I am in awe of their resilience," said The Reverend Professor Elizabeth Stuart, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester.

This year's Honorary Doctors and Fellows include:

Craig Revel Horwood (Honorary Doctor of Arts)

Craig Revel Horwood is a household name, having appeared as a Judge on all 18 series of the hit BBC1 entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. He also both directs and appears in the annual Strictly Come Dancing Live arena tour, created the touring show Strictly Confidential and was Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Australia and New Zealand.

Craig started his career as a performer in musical theatre in his home country of Australia, moving to London to appear in many West End musicals including Miss Saigon and Crazy for You.

Tommy Jessop (Honorary Doctor of Arts)

Tommy is one of the founding members of Blue Apple, a theatre and dance company dedicated to supporting performers with learning difficulties to develop and present high quality productions for the widest possible audiences. Tommy is the first professional actor with Down syndrome to play Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's most famous characters. Over the past decade he has made guest appearances in episodes of Casualty, Holby City and Doctors, most recently featuring in the BBC's hit drama Line of Duty.

David Mills MBE (Honorary Fellowship)

David founded the British Wildlife Centre 21 years ago. Realising a lifelong ambition to create his own zoo, he decided not to replicate what other people were doing with more exotic animals, but to concentrate on British wildlife. David's approach was to actively encourage close keeper-animal bonds of trust which would allow the keeper to show wildlife to visitors and to provide natural and stimulating enclosures for the animals, a technique that has now been universally embraced as the best way to keep wild animals in captivity.

Other prominent individuals being honoured include:

Elaine Cameron, Producer, Executive Producer and Head of Development at Hartswood Films, which makes the global television hit Sherlock

Honorary Doctor of Arts

Jock McKenzie, Director of Hampshire County Youth Bands since 2004

Honorary Fellowship

Rosie Inman-Cook, manager of the Natural Death Centre charity

Honorary Fellowship