Honorary degrees

The University of St Andrews will award an honorary degree to Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave next week.  He will be joined on the St Andrew’s Day graduation ceremony on Tuesday (30 November 2010) by Turner Prize-winning artist Richard Long.

Sir Steve, one of only four Olympians to have won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games (1984-2000), is hailed as Britain’s greatest Olympian.

Winner of three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships gold medals, from the early nineties, Redgrave dominated the field, winning almost every race he competed in, despite battling severe illness.

In addition to his Olympic medals, Redgrave won nine gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze at the Rowing World Championships. His total medal count remains unbeaten, although has since been equalled by long-time rowing partner Matthew Pinsent.

Buckinghamshire-born Redgrave retired from sport in 2000, and in the same year was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Born and based in Bristol, Richard Long is one of the country’s best known land artists and the only artist to be shortlisted for the Turner Prize four times. A sculptor, photographer and painter, Richard won the award in 1989 for his work White Water Line. Renowned for his use of natural materials including mud and driftwood, Richard embraced the Land Art movement of the sixties and seventies and is known for work created during his epic walks.  He was just twenty-two years old when he created a milestone in contemporary art by repeatedly walking a straight line in the grass in the English countryside, and then photographing it.

Richard will be honoured with an Hon DLitt (Doctor of Letters) while Sir Steve will be made an honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon LLD) at the ceremonies in the Younger Hall next week.

ENDS

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS

Photocalls with the honorary graduates will take place in St Salvator’s Quadrangle, North Street, St Andrews after each ceremony.

Richard Long graduates in the morning ceremony (10.30-12pm); Sir Steve Redgrave graduates in the afternoon (2-3.30pm).

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook, Senior Communications Manager on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected]