Actor David Morrissey receives honorary award at the University of Gloucestershire

Actor David Morrissey pictured with Baroness Rennie Fritchie, Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire

Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, David Morrissey has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire.

With his career spanning more than 30 years, he has appeared in television dramas including The Walking Dead and Red Riding, worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, and starred in films such as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Basic Instinct 2.

Born in Liverpool, David is also a director, producer and screenwriter. Film Production Course Leader at the University, Freya Billington, began working with David’s charity, The Creative Arts Schools Trust, 2011. She created and ran film making workshops with children in refugee camps in Tyre, Lebanon, and the Finetown Township, Johannesburg, in South Africa.

Presenting him with his award at Gloucester Cathedral, Freya said: “I am absolutely delighted the University has chosen to bestow this honour on David since I have had the genuine privilege of working with him through CAST and find him inspirational, as an artist, a teacher and an activist. When he came in to talk to Film Production students last year, he shared the passion he has for his craft but also gave an insight into the absolute commitment and hard work he puts into each project he undertakes. David is someone who genuinely believes in helping others with actions not just words, even though he says them pretty well too.”

David said: “I am delighted to be receiving this award, and the time I spent with the students at the University of Gloucestershire was so inspiring.”

Every year, the University confers honorary awards on distinguished individuals who have made an outstanding contribution locally, nationally or internationally or who have supported the University in some way.

They join around 2,000 graduating students at ceremonies in Cheltenham and Gloucester.

About the University of Gloucestershire
The University of Gloucestershire is a diverse, vibrant community of 9,000 undergraduate students, 1,000 postgraduate students, 40,000 alumni and 1,000 staff.

The University is based across three campuses in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Organised over ten academic Schools – Accounting and Law; Art and Design; Business and Management; Computing and Technology; Humanities; Media; Natural and Social Sciences; Leisure; Sports and Exercise; and Education and Public Services – the University has long excelled in education, media, sport and fine art.

Some quick facts about the University – read more on the website

• Training teachers since 1847 – outstanding primary school training as rated by Ofsted.

• Students rank us highly for “good personal relationships with teaching staff”, “offering tuition in small groups”, and “helpful and interested staff”*.

• Through our DegreePlus programme every year more than 3,000 students on a placement or internship.

• 94% of our graduates are in employment or further training within six months of completing their degrees**.

• £2.7m investment in a unique partnership to develop a “Growth Hub” to support businesses in the area through promoting skills, innovation and enterprise.

• Staff and students volunteer 10,000 hours for community projects supporting more than 150 organisations.

• We are a pioneer and sector leader in sustainability, ranking in the top five in the People and Planet League since it began and a regular winner at the annual Green Gown Awards.

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