Formula One World Champion and President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club Damon Hill OBE and Theatre Director Rupert Goold have received Honorary awards from The University of Northampton at the institution’s Winter Graduation ceremonies.

Damon Hill was presented with an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his career and outstanding Formula One success and for his local connections to Silverstone, Northamptonshire, where the British Racing Drivers’ Club is based. In addition, the award represents the part that Silverstone plays in supporting education. He commented:

“It’s a great honour to be made a Fellow of the University. My headmaster would appreciate the irony of the situation - when I asked his advice many years ago he told me not to waste my education on motor sport, but I made it to University in the end!

“Quite clearly we’re in a difficult economic situation at the moment and all of you are no doubt thinking about the future. Looking at my experience in motor sport there are a number of individuals who achieved success by being problem-solvers. They knuckled down to compete on the world stage by developing race-winning cars, and in this country we still have the edge over the world.”

Acclaimed theatre director and artistic director of the Headlong Theatre Rupert Goold received an Honorary Doctorate for national and international recognition in his field plus his connections to Northampton; his work with the Northampton Royal theatre and his support for the University’s School of The Arts.

1,253 students graduated from The University of Northampton on Sunday 8 February 2009 in two ceremonies on the day at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Five members of staff from the University were presented with prestigious Teaching and Learning Enhancement awards during the ceremonies. They have received recognition for excellence in learning and teaching at The University of Northampton, where they will hold the title of Teaching Fellows and will share effective practice across the institution.