The meaning of Fife

Comedian, broadcaster and writer Michael Palin is to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of St Andrews next month (23 June 2017).

The ex-Python will be joined by figures from the worlds of science, literature, religion, film and broadcasting during the University’s summer graduation ceremonies.

Former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway, broadcaster Donald Macleod and Iranian film director Professor Bahram Beyzaie are also to be awarded honorary doctorates.

They are among twelve distinguished individuals to be honoured between 20 and 23 June at the Younger Hall.

Mr Palin – who will receive his degree on Friday 23 June – is the third Python to be honoured by the University of St Andrews. As former Rector (1970 to 73), John Cleese was awarded an honorary degree in 1971; Terry Jones was most recently honoured in 2013.

The full list of recipients this summer is as follows:

Professor Laura Beatriz Esquivel Valdes – novelist, screenwriter, social activist and politician.

Dr Richard Holloway – Scottish writer, broadcaster, and former Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Professor Michael Klein – Laura H Carnell professor of science at Temple University in Philadelphia, USA, and the director of the Temple Institute for Computational Molecular Science.

Dr John Cameron – representative for Scottish agriculture and railway adviser.

Clement Mubanga Chileshe – Director for the Olympic Youth Development Center in Zambia.

The Rt Hon Dame Elish Angiolini – Scottish lawyer and former Lord Advocate of Scotland (2006 until 2011) whose work resulted in the establishment of the National Sexual Crimes Unit.

Donald Macleod – writer and broadcaster for the BBC radio and news.

Professor Anthony Paul Cohen – British social anthropologist, honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh, Emeritus Professor at Queen Margaret University, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Professor Bahram Beyzaie – critically acclaimed Iranian film director and playwright.

Michael Palin – comedian, broadcaster and writer best known for his work with Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Ripping Yarns.

David Nott – humanitarian award-winning war-zone surgeon and founder of the David Nott Foundation (a charity training medical professionals to provide relief and assistance in conflict and natural disaster zones) who was also the first surgeon to combine laparoscopic and vascular surgery.

Professor Malcolm Longair – physicist, served as the Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge from 1991 to 2008.

Image caption:
(top row, left to right) The Rt Hon Dame Elish Angiolini; David Nott; Professor Michael Klein; Clement Mubanga Chileshe; Professor Laura Beatriz Esquivel Valdes; and Michael Palin
(bottom row, left to right) Donald Macleod; Professor Malcolm Longair; Professor Anthony Paul Cohen; Dr Richard Holloway; Professor Bahram Beyzaie; and Dr John Cameron

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews. Contact via email to [email protected] or call 01334 462530.