A former Premier League football is among a trio of people receiving special honours from the University of Central Lancashire*.
Clarke Carlisle, who played nearly 550 professional games for teams including Preston North End, Burnley and Blackpool, will take to the stage next week to receive an Honorary Fellowship.
He will be joined by Sylvia Simmonds, who has spent her life trying to improve the lives of deaf individuals across the world, while an Honorary Doctorate will be conferred on Higher Education expert Professor Carl Lygo.
Taking place from 7 to 11 July in the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, the University’s degree and award celebrations will see almost 4,000 students don their academic caps and gowns across 14 graduation ceremonies.
Graduates and their guests will then move to University Square, in the heart of the Preston Campus, to enjoy post-event celebrations.
For those who cannot make it in person, live streaming will be available on the University’s YouTube channel.
Clarke, who will take to the stage on Monday, is being recognised for the significant contribution he has made to football and mental health awareness. During his 17-year playing career, the central defender was Chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association and an ambassador for the Kick it Out campaign, which focusses on eradicating racism and homophobia in football. His challenges with mental health are well documented and he is now using his own experiences in his role as Business Development Manager for a gambling harms charity. Clarke is also working closely with the University delivering presentations to students about his mental health struggles.
University of Central Lancashire alumnus Carl is being recognised on Wednesday for his outstanding contribution to the UK Higher Education sector. Following roles as a barrister, lecturer and chief executive, he played a pivotal role in the BPP Law School becoming a university and was appointed its inaugural Vice-Chancellor. He was a founding non-executive board member of the Office for Students, and then became Chairman of the University of Applied Sciences Europe. In 2019, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Arden University and continues in that role alongside being a Professor of English Law and sitting part-time as a judge.
On Friday, Sylvia will be honoured for her significant contribution to advocacy, British Sign Language (BSL) and deaf studies. She is Vice-Chair of the British Deaf Association and has represented the views of disabled people and championed LGBTQ+ rights within the deaf community on an international scale. Her achievements and successes include the World Federation of the Deaf Dedication Award, British Deaf Association Medal of Honour, and Royal Volunteer Service Platinum Jubilee Award. Sylvia has worked with the University on a research project to campaign for sign language access to government briefings for deaf people during Covid-19 and another which wants BSL to be given official recognition and be recognised in UK law.
Pic l-r Professor Carl Lygo, Clarke Carlisle and Sylvia Simmonds - Carl's photo credited to GUS
