Four leading figures from the worlds of literature, law and art will be honoured by the University of Aberdeen at its annual, winter graduation ceremonies at Marischal College later this month. One of the biggest names in contemporary literature, Louis de Bernières, artist, Callum Innes and retired solicitors, Graham Cran Hunter and George Ross, will receive honorary degrees from the University.
Louis de Bernières and Callum Innes will both receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) at the first ceremony on Friday 28 November, at 3.00pm.
Louis de Bernières has now sold over 2 million copies of Captain Corelli's Mandolin in the UK alone, and the book is established on the A-Level syllabus. He has received international acclaim and is in constant demand at literary festivals.
Louis de Bernières discloses himself as having had an unexpected career path (landscape gardener, 1972 -73; teacher and rancher in Colombia, 1974; philosophy tutor, 1977-79; car mechanic, 1980; English teacher, 1981-84; bookshop assistant, 1985-86; supply teacher, 1986-93). A broken leg and a gap year in South America brought him into contact with the magic realist style, which he has since adopted.
Callum Innes was educated at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, and then Edinburgh College of Art. His work is regularly shown in exhibitions world-wide and he has recently had important solo shows at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham and Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland. Innes' public collections include San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA; Arts Council of England; British Council, London, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, USA and the Tate, London.
Innes was nominated for the Turner Prize and the Jerwood Prize for painting in 1995, and was awarded the Jerwood Prize in May 2002. He was a prizewinner at the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition in 1997, and was awarded the National Westminster Art Prize in 1998.
On Saturday 29 November at 11.00am, Graham Hunter will receive the Honorary Degree of Master of the University (MUniv). Hunter has taught law at the University of Aberdeen for more than 20 years, while maintaining a full-time professional position as a solicitor and partner in one of the City's major law firms. He has been a strong supporter of the University, not only through long service to the institution, but through his participation in the work on the Friends of the University Library, and in helping to foster links between the University and the local professional and business community.
George Ross is one of the longest serving members of the University's School of Law. Indeed, he is one of the longest serving members of the University staff with 40 years of service. It should be noted that the 40 years of service which George Ross has given to the University is based on 40 consecutive annual contracts - an arrangement which reflects special loyalty on his part. He will be honoured on Saturday 29 November by receiving the honorary degree of Master of the University (MUniv).
Throughout the time George Ross has taught at the University he has also worked in practice as a solicitor and latterly as a partner in one of the City's major law firms. Ross has also been a significant figure in the work of the Red Cross in Scotland.
The winter graduation ceremonies will be held at Mitchell Hall, Marischal College on Friday November 28 @ 3.00pm and Saturday November 29 @ 11.00am.