Former Guardian editor and automotive trailblazer to receive university honours

A world renowned journalist who edited the Guardian for more than 20 years, a trailblazer in the automotive industry, and the man driving the Lanchester name forward are all among those receiving honorary doctorates from Coventry University this week.

Alan Rusbridger, who spent 20 years as editor of the Guardian newspaper, will be made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at a ceremony on Monday in recognition of his longstanding and significant contribution to national and international journalism.

A highly successful and well respected political and investigative reporter, Alan has won awards in the UK and across the world. As editor of the Guardian he helped steer the newspaper through a digital transformation, and sat at the heart of the Wikileaks and Snowdon revelations.

Alan is also a keen amateur musician and was chair of the National Youth Orchestra for eight years. He has chaired the Photographers’ Gallery in London; remains chairman of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism; and sits on the board of the Royal National Theatre in London. 

In 2014 he was elected principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and has served as a visiting professor in universities across the world.

He will be joined on Coventry’s honours roll by Peter Ward who will receive an honorary doctorate of business administration for his significant contribution to the industries following an impressive career with Jaguar, Unipart and Peugeot, Rolls Royce and Bentley Motors as well as his time as chairman and CEO of various global automotive companies.

Born and raised in Coventry, Peter remains a key figure in the industry, serving as president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and as director of the British-American Chamber of Commerce in New York. He remains hugely influential in education, technology and innovation.

Also among the honorary awardees this week are specialists and exemplary figures from fields ranging from healthcare to engineering history.  

Chris Clark, a graduate of the university, has become the world’s foremost expert and biographer on the life of engineer and inventor, Frederick Lanchester. He will receive an honorary doctorate of arts in recognition of his outstanding ongoing contribution to the heritage and legacy of the polymath.

Lynn Bowles, a BBC radio broadcaster is being presented with an honorary master of arts in recognition of her services to broadcasting after a career across the world and 18 years working as a traffic reporter on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans and Ken Bruce shows.

For further press information, please contact Hannah Smith, press officer at Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7765 8352 or at hannah.smith@coventry.ac.uk.

Details of each of the awards and when they will be presented are as follows: