HONORARY awards were yesterday presented to leading figures promoting the North-East in the education and acting fields.
Sunderland University conferred honorary degrees on its former vice-chancellor, Dr Anne Wright, and on actor and dramatist Edward Wilson.
They are among eight recipients of honorary degrees, from the arts, education and business, honoured during the end-of-term graduation ceremonies at Sunderland Empire theatre.
Dr Wright received an honorary doctorate of law from her successor as vice-chancellor, Peter Fidler, two years after she left the post to become chief executive of the Government's University for Industry.
Her award was recognition for her "outstanding contribution" to education and life in the North-East life.
She has been a member of the Further Education Funding Council, the National Advisory Council on Education and Training Targets and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Dr Wright, a special achiever category winner in the Northern Business Awards of 1997, also received a CBE that year for services to higher education.
Edward Wilson, best known for his roles in TV dramas When the Boat Comes In and Rockcliffe's Babies, is now a director of the National Youth Theatre (NYT).
The South Shields-born actor, who has spearheaded the NYT's return to the West End, was recently appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Arts during yesterday's Empire ceremonies.
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