Annual Review, 2000-2001: People and Honorary Graduates

University of Essex: Annual Review, 2000-2001
Contents - The University - Vice-Chancellor's Introduction - A New Partnership - Constable and Wivenhoe Park - Campus Developments - Research at Essex - Review of the Year - People and Honorary Graduates - Financial Summary and Statistics

People and Honorary Graduates

Professor Marcus Chambers from the Department of Economics was awarded the prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize for his work in econometrics. The award aims to recognise and facilitate the work of outstanding research scholars who have made a significant contribution to knowledge.

The Right Reverend John Waine retired as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the University Council but has now taken up Chairmanship of the University of Essex Foundation.
Tim Melville-Ross a member of Council since October 1994, was appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council.

Professor Jim Richmond was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Resources). Professor Richmond replaced Professor Rob Massara who took over as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) from Professor David Sanders.

Professor Brian Ridley from the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering was awarded the Paul Dirac Medal and Prize by the Institute of Physics in recognition of the valuable contributions he has made to both theoretical and semiconductor physics over the past four decades.

Stanley Thompson retired as University Treasurer. Mr Thompson has been a member of Council since 1988 and became Treasurer in 1994. Derek Lewis, a member of Council since 1999, replaced him.

Dr Debi Roberson from the Department of Psychology was awarded the British Psychological Society's Cognitive Psychology Award 2001 for her research into the relationship between language and thought conducted with colleagues from Goldsmith's University and the University of Surrey.

Yolanda Martin-Camacho from the Department of Accounting, Finance and Management was named 'Most Enterprising Student in Essex' by the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme. Under the scheme Yolanda took up an eight-week placement with a local firm and is estimated to have saved them Ł11,000.

2000-2001 Honorary Graduates

Theodoros Angelopoulos, the Greek born director and screenwriter, has been described as being one of the most important film makers working today. His early work as a director was largely historically based and includes a trilogy charting the history of Greece from the mid-1930s onward. His later work draws more on ancient history and myth but retains a key political dimension. During his career Mr Angelopoulos has won many of the major international film awards including the much coveted Palme d'Or in 1998 at the Cannes Film Festival.

Sir Peter Bonfield, CBE Chief Executive of British Telecommunications, began his career in information technology and the electronics industry at Texas Instruments Inc. in 1966. He moved to ICL in 1981 and joined BT in 1996. During his career Sir Peter has received many accolades including the Mountbatten Medal from the National Electronics Council for his work in the electronics field. In 1994 he was asked to participate in the High Level Working Group established by the European Commission to consider the creation of the information society.

Cyril Ndebele, retired Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, played an important role in promoting democracy within the unpredictable and often violent political environment of his homeland. He stood forthrightly for the rights of Parliament against external interference, and established the Parliamentary Reform Committee to strengthen democracy in Zimbabwe. He was honoured for his commitment to democratisation and for his personal and moral courage which has helped to leave Zimbabwe with a strong commitment to democratic values.

Gail Rebuck, CBE, once described in The Observer as being the 91st most powerful person in the country, is currently Chairman and Chief Executive of the Random House Group, Britain's biggest selling book publisher. Gail Rebuck is also a member of the Creative Industries Taskforce.

Dr Andrei Vladimir Gnezdilov, is joint founder of the first Russian hospice. Since its development over ten years ago, Dr Gnezdilov has devoted time and energy in developing the hospice movement in Russia and raising the resources to keep the hospice functioning. Dr Gnezdilov has worked with the terminally ill since the early 1970s and particularly on the development of art therapy. He is founder of the KanTeMuk Psychotherapy Theatre where music and bell therapy, psychodrama and shadow theatre are used to relieve stress experienced by the terminally ill.

Patricia Hodgson, CBE is currently Chief Executive of the Independent Television Commission. Her career in television began at the BBC as a producer and she was also part of the team which pioneered distance learning techniques at the Open University. In 1993 she was appointed Director of Policy and Planning and played a key role in many initiatives, including the original concept for BBC Prime and BBC World. Patricia Hodgson also led the BBC team which planned the launch of new digital and online services between 1997 and 2000.

Professor David Lockwood, CBE first joined the Department of Sociology at the University in 1968 and was Pro-Vice-Chancellor between 1989 and 1992. Professor Lockwood has been one of the most internationally influential sociologists of the past 50 years. His most noted publications include 'The Black Coated Worker', and 'The Affluent Worker' in three volumes. Professor Lockwood is a fellow of the British Academy and recently has been involved in rewriting the census classification with the National Office of Statistics for the 2001 census.

Trevor Brooking, CBE, former England football international and FA Cup winner, is chairman of Sport England. A well known football commentator on both radio and television, Trevor Brooking enjoyed a distinguished footballing career, scoring more than 100 goals and playing more than 640 matches, including 47 international caps.

The Right Honorable The Lord Slynn of Hadley, PC sits in the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Called to the Bar as a member of Gray's Inn in 1956, he was made QC in 1974. During the 1980s he began an international academic career and was Visiting Professor in Law at a number of universities, including Cornell, Durham, Sydney and the National University of India. Lord Slynn was visitor of the University between 1995 and 2000.