Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,200+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

Your chance to nominate Suffolk's next honorary graduates

Members of the public can now nominate inspirational individuals for University of Suffolk honorary degrees. The university is seeking nominations for people who have made exceptional contributions to society, overcome disadvantages, or enhanced the region's educational and cultural wellbeing.

Why it matters: The honorary degrees celebrate achievements that make a real difference to Suffolk communities, recognising both high-profile figures and unsung local heroes who have made lasting impacts.

Ann Osborn BEM
Ann Osborn BEM(Gregg BrownUniversity of Suffolk)

The big picture: The university awards several honorary doctorates each year during its graduation ceremonies, with recent recipients including:

  • Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town's promotion-winning manager

  • Boshor Ali, chair of BSC Multicultural Services

  • Michael Read MBE, Olympian and Broomhill Lido champion

How it works:

  • Anyone can submit a nomination through the University of Suffolk website

  • Deadline is Monday 31 March

  • Nominations must remain confidential – nominees should not be informed

  • Recipients are chosen based on contributions to education, culture, business or community service

Kerry Ellis
Kerry Ellis(Gregg BrownUniversity of Suffolk)

What they're saying: Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the University of Suffolk, said: "Awarding honorary awards at our annual graduation ceremonies gives the University of Suffolk the chance to celebrate the richness and diversity of our wider relationships."

Worth noting: Honorary awards cannot be given to serving politicians, university governors, or university employees.

The bottom line: This is a chance for local residents to help recognise those making outstanding contributions to Suffolk life, whether through community service, educational achievement, or inspiring others in the face of adversity.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Kingsfleet and Ipswich School

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Year 5 pupils leave council chiefs 'in awe' at annual health report launch

For the first time in Suffolk County Council's history, young people didn't just contribute to its Annual Public Health Report – they led it. On Thursday morning at Portman Road, the council launched "Youth Social Action is Public Health," a document that marks a fundamental shift from doing public health to young people, to doing it with them.
byandandandand
Continue reading →
News

Ipswich council to spend more than £600,000 on bins and bags

Ipswich Borough Council has agreed to spend more than £600,000 on bins and bags over the next three years to fulfil its statutory duty to deliver waste collections across the borough.
byand
Continue reading →
News

New poll reveals food prices influencing 58% of region's voting choices

More than half of voters in the East of England say rising food prices are the most important cost of living pressure the government needs to tackle in 2026, according to new research that maps how economic concerns could be reshaping the political landscape constituency by constituency.
by
Continue reading →
News

Sir Bobby Robson mural replaced at Portman Road

A lifelong Ipswich Town fan has spoken of his pride at replacing the iconic Sir Bobby Robson mural above the club shop with artwork showing him lifting the UEFA Cup.
by
Continue reading →
News

NHS chief urges families to help ease hospital pressure

The chief nurse for Suffolk and North East Essex is urging relatives and friends to help discharge patients who are medically fit to leave, as local hospitals face high pressure from winter viruses and increased admissions.
by
Continue reading →
News

Menopause business founder in UK's top 100 entrepreneurs

Melissa Dickinson left her career aged 50 due to perimenopause. She has now built an award-winning Ipswich business helping other women navigate the same challenges, earning national recognition as one of the UK's top 100 female entrepreneurs.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,260+ people are already loving it