Motorsport supremo Ross Brawn to receive Honorary degree

The boss of the Mercedes GP PETRONAS Formula One Team, Ross Brawn, and Northamptonshire’s former Chief Inspector of Schools, George Gyte, are to receive Honorary degrees from The University of Northampton this week.

They will join 1,553 students graduating from the University at the Winter Ceremonies, to be held at Royal & Derngate on Sunday 13 February 2011.

Included in these graduands are the first graduating cohort of the fast-track Law LLB (Hons) two year degree programme, many of whom are now undertaking professional qualifications to become solicitors and barristers.

Seven members of academic and support staff at The University of Northampton will also be receiving the annual University Teaching Fellowships. These awards celebrate excellence in teaching and student learning and are worth £1,500 each to the individuals or groups, to support their own continuing professional development.

The recipients of the 2010/11 Fellowships are: Professor Andrew Pilkington, Sociology (individual award); Eunice Lumsden, School of Education, Heather McBryde-Wilding, academic support and Hannah Rose, Information Services (Group award) and Fiona Barchard and Marylyn Richardson, from the School of Health (Group award), along with Rachel Fitzgerald, Northampton Business School, who was awarded a Fellowship in 2009/10 and will be picking her award up at this ceremony.

The Honorary Awards will be conferred on two high profile VIPs whose careers have made a significant impact on the county.

Ross Brawn is currently Team Principal of the Brackley-based Mercedes GP PETRONAS Formula One Team. In 2009 he bought out the then Honda Racing F1 team, renamed it Brawn GP, and won both the Formula 1 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships with Jenson Button, in his maiden season.

George Gyte is the former Chief Inspector of Schools for Northamptonshire. An ex-headteacher, Mr Gyte went on to advise the Labour government on teacher training and education at the DfES, and is now Director of Pentir Talent Solutions.