Former Chief of the General Staff receives honorary degree from UEA
By: Communications
L-R: UEA Council Chair Dr Sally Howes OBE, Lady Philippa Dannatt, UEA Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson, Lord Richard Dannatt, UEA Chancellor Dame Karen Jones.
Former Chief of the General Staff Lord Richard Dannatt has received an honorary degree from the University of East Anglia.
Honorary degrees are awarded to acknowledge individuals for outstanding accomplishments in their field or for exceptional contributions to the community.
Lord Dannatt was presented with his Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law in a ceremony at the University of East Anglia (UEA) on Friday 21 October.
Lord Dannatt has been leading the support of UEA and other local partners in dialogue with the Government and in the establishment of a charitable trust to secure the future of the Gloucester shipwreck, discovered in 2007. As well as his military service, Lord Dannatt’s high profile charity roles have included chairman of the National Emergencies Trust and the Normandy Memorial.
He said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to receive this degree. The UEA is very much part and parcel of our life in Norfolk, and it is wonderful to be formally part of the University family.”
UEA Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson said: “It is a great pleasure to be able to welcome you into our UEA community of around 150,000 global graduates, a family that we are all very proud of.
“This recognises your long and distinguished career in the military, as a leader and in charity work. You do a great deal for our county in your civic role.
“We are extremely grateful for your support of our work to preserve and tell the story of the Gloucester shipwreck."
Lord Dannatt was joined in a private ceremony by his wife, the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk Lady Philippa Dannatt, UEA Chancellor Dame Karen Jones, and UEA Council Chair Dr Sally Howes OBE.
Lord Dannatt later shared his vision for the future preservation of the Gloucester at the AGM of the University – UEA Court - on Friday evening.
The Gloucester sank off the coast of north Norfolk in 1682 carrying the future King of England, James Stuart, Duke of York. It was discovered by brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, and James Little, in 2007. The announcement of the ship’s discovery was made in June 2022.
View UEA's Gloucester shipwreck video below:
Lord Dannatt has referred to the discovery as “Norfolk’s Mary Rose.”
“It’s such an amazing story to tell,” he said. “Our aim is to bring that story to life and share it with as many people as possible.” Lord Dannatt has agreed to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the future ‘Gloucester 1682 Charitable Trust’.
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