Winter graduation: our three honorary graduates
11 December 2023
A BBC radio presenter, a local designer and a leading European health expert were all awarded honorary degrees during our winter graduation ceremonies last week.
Winter graduation ran from 6-8 December, with hundreds of students being celebrated for their achievements.
As is tradition, three remarkable individuals with a connection to the University were also honoured.
Fiona Talkington
Fiona was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. She is one of BBC Radio 3’s longest serving presenters and has a long connection with the University.
Fiona co-founded and presents BBC Radio 3's award-winning Late Junction programme, and currently hosts the station’s Afternoon Concert show.
She grew up close to Whiteknights campus and still lives in the area. She is a graduate of the MA programme in the Department of English Literature and worked as a concert organiser in the former Department of Music.
Fiona has also long supported refugee advocacy groups in Reading through fundraising and using storytelling to uplift marginalised voices.
Read more about Fiona in our news story.
Martin Andrews
Martin received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.
Martin graduated with a degree in Typography & Graphic Communication in 1976 before becoming an exhibition designer at Reading Museum. He won a Museum of the Year award for installing the Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock in Reading.
In 1990, Martin returned to the University as a lecturer in the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, where he remained for many years.
He specialised in printing history, lecturing extensively on this topic and authoring several books.
After retiring, Martin redeveloped the Ure Museum in Reading as well as museums for Oxford University Press and the Royal Berkshire Hospital. He continues to promote the arts locally.
Read more about Martin in our news story.
Stella Kyriakides
Stella was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science.
She is the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. She led the EU’s public health response to Covid-19, coordinating access to vaccines across member states.
Stella graduated from Reading with a Psychology degree in 1977, and has since dedicated her career to advancing healthcare, patient advocacy and human rights.
While working for Cyprus' Ministry of Health, Stella established the country’s first department in child and adolescent psychology, before founding the first breast cancer patient organisation in the country following her own breast cancer diagnosis.
Stella entered Cypriot politics in 2006, chairing parliamentary human rights committees spearheading child protection efforts. She was the first Cypriot to serve as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in 2017-2018.