Dennis Robbins, CEO at The Hunslet Club is among the seven distinguished individuals receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the university this July.
Dennis is to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate for service to the city. Dennis provides exceptional leadership of The Hunslet Club, reflecting a lifelong commitment to helping young people reach their potential.
Dennis Robbins, chief executive of The Hunslet Club, said:
“It is a real honour to receive this type of recognition from one of Leeds’s finest institutions. Working for 25 years in the charity sector has been extremely fulfilling and rewarding and receiving an award such as this is a pleasant and unexpected surprise.”
Physiotherapist and MND campaigner Lindsey Burrow will become an Honorary Doctor of the University for her public and voluntary service. The award recognises Lindsey’s inspiring journey supporting her late husband Rob Burrow CBE through his heroic battle with MND.
Former Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan CBE will receive an Honorary Doctorate to recognise his service to the city over almost three decades in public service roles in Leeds and now national government.
Weightlifter Emily Campbell and triathletes Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE and Alex Yee MBE will be awarded Honorary Doctorates for service to sport. The awards will be made alongside the graduation of nearly 8,000 students in ceremonies at the first direct arena from 14 to 18 July.
Emily, who completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science in 2016, has used the success achieved with medals in both Tokyo and Paris to champion inclusion and inspire participation in sport.
Alex provided one of the enduring memories of the Paris 2024 games with a dramatic finish to claim individual gold, taking his personal Olympic medal tally to four. Two of those were won in the team event alongside fellow sports science graduate Georgia, who also claimed individual silver in Tokyo.
Performance artist Rose English is to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate for service to the arts. Leeds Beckett is recognising alumna Rose’s remarkable five-decade career as a pioneering figure in performance art.
Professor Peter Slee, vice chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, said:
“On behalf of Leeds Beckett University, I would like to congratulate these inspirational and distinguished individuals on their achievement.
“I am delighted that we are recognising diverse accomplishments and talent which have such significant impact locally, nationally and globally. Their successes provide inspiration for this year’s graduating students.”
The Leeds Beckett University graduates and honorary graduated will join a thriving alumni community of more than 253,000 alumni in 166 countries.
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds Beckett University
Photo: Dennis Robbins in The Hunslet Club’s boxing gym. Credit: Jeremy Morton
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