A UNIVERSITY which started out in life with an £80,000 donation is to celebrate a landmark anniversary full of confidence for the future.

The Middlesbrough-based University of Teesside is marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of Constantine College, the original predecessor of the university.

Big celebrations are planned to mark the milestone next week, with more than 2,000 students receiving their degrees from the university in ten ceremonies at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

About 4,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremonies, which will each begin with a procession from the university.

An honorary graduates ceremony is also planned.

Professor Graham Henderson, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "All of us at the university are really looking forward to sharing in the success of our students next week.''

He added: "Our 75th anniversary ceremonies will be a fantastic showcase of the talent and the skill that has characterised our institution throughout its history. We face the future with huge confidence.''

Constantine College was founded with the help of an £80,000 donation from the family of local shipping magnate Joseph Constantine. It was opened in July 1930 by the then Prince of Wales.

The university now has more than 20,000 full and part-time students, and more than £70m has been invested in two purpose-built buildings on the campus.

The honorary degrees will be awarded by Lord Sawyer of Darlington, in his first ceremony as University Chancellor.

The honorary graduates include Bob Champion, who overcame cancer and went on to win the Grand National in 1981. The founder of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, which has raised £10m towards cancer research, he receives the honorary Doctor of Laws.

Geraldine Peacock, the current chairwoman of the Charity Commission, who lectured in social administration at Teesside Polytechnic in the mid-1970s, and went on to become chief executive of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, is also to be made a Doctor of Laws.

Former leader of Hartlepool Council, Bryan Hanson, is being created a Master of Laws.

Hannana Siddiqui, a founder and joint co-ordinator of the Southall Black Sisters, which supports Afro-Caribbean women, receives a Master of Arts.

Teesside civil engineering graduate and group chief executive of Manchester Airport, Geoffrey Muirhead, is to be made a Doctor of Business Administration.