QUB Celebrates Centenary With Fresh Honours

The two men who successfully set in train Ulster's 'peace process' and negotiated last year's second attempt at a devolved Assembly at Stormont, are to be honoured.

Former PM Tony Blair and Irish leader Bertie Ahern are to receive honorary degrees from Queen's University Belfast.

The two will get honorary law doctorates for "distinction in public service".

Others on the university's list of honours in this centenary year are Fr Alec Reid and Rev Harold Good, who witnessed IRA acts of decommissioning.

The honours will be conferred at various ceremonies throughout the year and will help in marking 100 years since it became a fully-fledged university with its own charter, having originally been established as Queen's College in 1845 as one of three colleges in Ireland.

TV and stage actress, Joanna Lumley and 'old stager' James Ellis - famous for many roles such as Inspector Lynch in Z- Cars and the father in Graham Reid's seminal 'Billy' plays will also be honoured by the university for their services to the performing arts.

Booker prize-winning novelist Anne Enright, broadcaster Laurie Taylor and Dr Chitra Bharucha, haematologist and vice-chairperson of the BBC Trust are also in the frame.

Former Conservative Party Chairman, Ulsterman Lord Mawhinney and computer game developer David Perry are among the Queen's graduates returning to the university.

A university spokeswoman said those selected for honorary doctorates were chosen because they are "role models for our students and the wider community".

(BMcC)