Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Thursday, 31 January

Dr Charles Wong Ede and Ravenscroft

Martyn Brabbins with orator Professor John Pickard Ede and Ravenscroft

Press release issued: 31 January 2013

The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Dr Charles Wong and Martyn Brabbins at today’s degree ceremonies in the Wills Memorial Building.

Dr Charles Wong will receive a Doctor of Laws in recognition of his contribution to distance education and lifelong learning as the Founding Director of the School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE) at the City University of Hong Kong.

He started it from scratch in 1995 and has grown a strong partnership with the Graduate School of Education at Bristol University.

Before he retired last year, Dr Wong was on the Education Commission in Hong Kong and was awarded the prestigious Medal of Honour in 2003 in recognition of his leadership, expertise and influence in the education sector.

World-leading conductor Martyn Brabbins’ achievements are being honoured with a Doctor of Music degree.

He has worked with leading orchestras around the world and is upheld as one of the outstanding British conductors of our time, with a prolific output of CD recordings, numbering over 100 disks and a repertoire of thousands of works.

In the last 12 months alone he has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Adelaide Symphony, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, most of the BBC orchestras, Opera de Lyon, Flemish Opera and English National Opera.

Martyn, who was once conductor of the local Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra, lives in Stroud and has been the Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival.

An honorary degree is a major accolade, awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the University’s mission.

Live web streaming of the event can be viewed via the University's Public and Ceremonial Events website.

Further information

The official photographs and speeches delivered by the public orators at each ceremony are available to the media on request from the University's Press Office.