A NUMBER of leading personalities in the county have been awarded honorary degrees by the University of Kent.

They include actor Sir Michael Gambon, author and historian Antony Beevor, cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and Edwin Boorman, chairman the Kent Messenger Group.

The former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, artist Fred Cuming and scientist, Dame Julia Higgins, will also receive honorary degrees.

The university will also honour Sir Ron Cooke (former vice-chancellor of the University of York), Daniel Boucher (President de l'Université du Littoral), and Professor Jaqueline McGlade (director of the European Environment Agency).

The ten honorary graduates will join nearly 2,000 University of Kent students who will be graduating at the degree ceremonies at Canterbury Cathedral in July.