Official Bee Gees Fan Club – GSI

BEE GEES Robin and Barry Gibb were among the recipients of Honorary Degrees from The University of Manchester on Wednesday 12 May 2004.

The Gibb brothers also accepted a posthumous Honorary Degree on behalf of their brother Maurice, who died in January 2003.

They received their Degrees from the University’s Chancellor Ms Anna Ford at a special ceremony to mark Founders Day.

The full list of those who received Degrees is:

Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and the late Maurice Gibb (Doctor of Music): The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man, but moved to Manchester in the 1950s. They formed a band and performed from an early age – impressing audiences in Manchester before the whole family emigrated to Australia. The Bee Gees went on to become one of the best selling and most influential pop groups in the world. They have released 28 albums and sold 110 million copies – making them the fifth biggest selling pop group of all time. Their hits, which include ‘Staying Alive’ and ‘How Deep Is Your Love?’ have been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to Take That.

Claude Blair (Doctor of Letters): Claude is recognised as a distinguished scholar in the field of European arms, armour and historic metalwork. He is a former Keeper of Metalwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and has published many books including a two volume study of The Crown Jewels. He was born and educated in Manchester and is a graduate of The University of Manchester.

Sir Ian Kershaw (Doctor of Letters): Sir Ian Kershaw is widely regarded as the worlds leading expert on Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. He was born in Oldham and educated in Manchester and spent an early part of his academic career in the Department of History at The University of Manchester. He began his academic career studying medieval history, before a visit to West Germany in 1972 inspired him to begin research into the social history of Nazism. His books ‘The Nazi Dictator’ and ‘The Hitler Myth’ have become central texts for students all over the world.

Professor Wang Shenghong (Doctor of Science): A distinguished academic in the field of precision mechanical engineering and the holder of a number of senior positions in the Chinese higher education system. Since 1998, Professor Wang Shenghong has held the position of President of Fudan University in China. The University of Manchester has just concluded a major research agreement with Fudan University.

Councillor Roy Walters (Doctor of Laws): Councillor Walters was born and educated in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, and settled in the UK in 1958. He was employed by Manchester Corporation Transport from 1960 to 1991 and in 1983 was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to transport. Councillor Walters was elected as a Councillor for Moss Side in 1998 and was Lord Mayor of Manchester during 2002/3. He has served on many Committees at Manchester City Council and is a former non-executive director of Central Manchester Healthcare Trust.