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Athlete Dina Asher-Smith and comedian Mark Thomas to be honoured by the University of Kent in Canterbury and Rochester

16:04, 04 March 2022

updated: 16:53, 04 March 2022

Athlete Dina Asher-Smith and comedian Mark Thomas will be getting honorary degrees in Kent.

The University of Kent will be holding its first graduation ceremonies in person since 2019.

Dina Asher-Smith will receive her honorary degree in Rochester Picture: @TeamGB
Dina Asher-Smith will receive her honorary degree in Rochester Picture: @TeamGB

The events will take place at Rochester Cathedral on March 22, and Canterbury Cathedral from March 28 to April 1.

World Champion sprinter Dina Asher-Smith will be made a Doctor of the University at the Rochester ceremony.

Dina, from Orpington, is the fastest British woman in history and currently holds British records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.

Alongside her at the ceremony, Medway's Dalia Halpern-Matthews, will be made a Doctor of Arts in recognition of her contribution to public life, the arts and creativity.

Dalia has led creative projects and set up large scale community arts events and educational programmes.

Comedian, writer and activist Mark Thomas will be made a Doctor of Letters in Canterbury on March 30, for his contribution to British comedy and politics.

Comedian Mark Thomas Photo: Susan Hubbard
Comedian Mark Thomas Photo: Susan Hubbard

He first became known as a guest comic on the BBC Radio 1 comedy show The Mary Whitehouse Experience in the late 1980s and was a founding member of the Cutting Edge comedy show at the Comedy Store. He is widely known and celebrated for political stunts on his show, The Mark Thomas Comedy Product on Channel 4.

Daniel Rubin, founder and CEO of the footwear brand Dune, will receive his honorary degree in Canterbury on the same day. He will be made a Doctor of the University for his inspirational and distinguished career in business.

Also receiving honours at Canterbury will be Dr Nike Folayan, who will be made a Doctor of Science in recognition of her work with the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers; Profe Richard Hodges OBE, who will be made a Doctor of Letters for his contribution to archaeology; Ptolemy Dean OBE, who will be made a Doctor of Arts for his contribution to architecture, conservation and heritage; Joe Egan, who will be made a Doctor of Laws for his contribution to the legal profession and to the Law Society and Keith Teare, who will be made a Doctor of the University for his inspirational career as a serial entrepreneur.

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