THOUSANDS of students will be joined by well-known faces from the town as they throw their mortarboard caps in the air during Chester University graduations.
The Royle Family actress Sue Johnston CBE and former Warrington North MP and current Warrington Wolves president Lord Hoyle will be among famous faces collecting Honorary Degrees from the university which also has a campus in Warrington.
Professor Tim Wheeler, university vice-chancellor, will congratulate the graduate scholars during the ceremonies at Chester Cathedral which take place from today, Wednesday to Friday.
Professor Wheeler said: “It is always a pleasure to see so many students graduate from the setting of this magnificent cathedral.
“We are delighted to welcome nine outstanding individuals who have given so much to society.
“They thoroughly deserve their Honorary Degrees and we are proud to have them join us on these special occasions.”
Lord Hoyle will receive a Doctor of Letters for the ‘outstanding contribution made to the Borough of Warrington for nearly three decades and the service afforded to its residents.’ In 1983 he became MP for Warrington North and retained the seat until 1997 while also acting as Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 1992 to 1997 and was a member of the shadow cabinet.
He spent two years on the front bench in the House of Lords as Government spokesperson for defence, home office and agriculture and was a government whip.
Lord Hoyle, who was Warrington Wolves chairman for 10 years and made President in 2009, was raised to the peerage as Baron Hoyle of Warrington in the county of Cheshire in 1997.
Sue Johnston CBE will receive a Doctor of Letters in recognition for her outstanding contribution to television, drama and the performing arts.
She was born in Warrington and performed as an actress in St Helens before meeting Phil Redmond and landing the part of Sheila Grant in Liverpool soap Brookside.
Sue has become a national figure appearing in sitcom The Royle Family and received a number of awards including an OBE in 2009 for her services to drama.
Seven other famous faces will also receive the degrees including jockey Willie Carson
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here