Honorary Fellowships are awarded on an annual basis in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university and in support of a variety of causes linked to the work of the university.
July 2016
Professor Liz Beaty PhD FSEDA MBE
For her outstanding contribution to higher education (awarded July 2016).
Liz Beaty was born in Carlisle. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in Sociology from the University of Essex and a Phd from the University of Surrey. Her career included roles at the Open University, Newcastle Polytechnic, and the Universities of Brighton and Coventry. Liz was made a Professor in 2002 shortly before taking on a national role as Executive Director at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Her role included the creation of the Higher Education Academy, Centre’s for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and to oversee the development of ideas for a new university in Cumbria.
Liz moved back ‘home’ joining the University early in 2008 as its Pro Vice Chancellor and helped to develop its strategic partnerships within the region and internationally. Liz retired in December 2013 and has since produced an archive of interviews with people influential in the start-up phase of the University of Cumbria. She is a trustee of Stainton Village Hall and enjoys walking and swimming in the Lake District.
Mick Fowler
For his lifelong and outstanding contribution to the world of rock climbing and mountaineering. (awarded July 2016)
Mick was born in London in 1956 and was introduced to rock climbing and mountaineering as a teenager. In the late 1970’s Mick was at the forefront of technical rock and winter climbing in Britain. In the 1980s and 1990’s his ascents of the sea cliffs on the North Devon/Cornwall coast and Beachy Head set new standards of seriousness.
Mick has climbed all the classic north faces in Europe and made notable ascents in Peru, Africa and Canada. The unclimbed peaks of Asia have been the main focus of Mick’s mountaineering energies – he is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading Alpine Style Himalayan mountaineers. Mick was voted the ‘Mountaineers’ Mountaineer’ in the Observer newspaper, has won three piolet d’or awards and in 2012 was awarded the King Albert Award for ‘outstanding contribution to mountaineering’.
He is a past president of the Alpine Club, patron of the British Mountaineering Council and an award-winning author who has written three books about his exploits. Vertical Pleasure (1995), On Thin Ice (2005) and No Easy Way (2018). He is considered a legend by other climbers, not least because of his ability to climb hard and remote mountains, all within his annual holiday entitlement from his career in the UK tax office where, up until his retirement in January 2017, he held the position of Assistant Director of Shares and Assets Valuation.
He lives in Matlock, Derbyshire with his wife Nicki with whom he has two children, Tessa and Alec.
John Fryer-Spedding CBE DL
For his lifelong service to the Cumbrian community and outstanding contribution to charitable work (awarded July 2016).
John Fryer-Spedding was born in Cumbria in 1937. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge graduating with a MA in Law. John joined the Royal Green Jackets and served for ten years in Germany, Cyprus and Borneo - he retired as a Major in 1968. John and his wife, Clare, moved into his ancestral home of Mirehouse (dating from 1666) in 1969 and in 1978 opened their home and gardens to the public offering a wide range of facilities and educational opportunities.
In 1976 John founded The Lake District Calvert Trust as a Centre for people with disabilities to enjoy outdoor activities in beautiful countryside. The Centre now welcomes over 3,000 people every year. Following its success, Calvert Trust Centres were opened at Kielder in Northumbria in 1984 and on Exmoor in 1996. John has served on several voluntary bodies dedicated to enhancing the economy, cultural and community engagement.
He is a former President of the Royal Forestry Society, and remains a member of its Council, currently a Vice-President of the Cumbria Community Foundation and continues to be a Fellow of the Wordsworth Trust, Vice-President of the Tennyson Society and values his involvement with the Keswick Beekeepers Association.
John was High Sheriff of Cumbria in 1997-98, a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria from 1985 and served as Vice Lord-Lieutenant from 2006-2012. He was awarded an OBE in 1982 and a CBE in 2003 for services to the community in Cumbria.
For her lifelong and outstanding contribution to the arts and literature (awarded July 2016). (Deceased 30 April 2021)
Cate Haste was born in Leeds in 1945. She completed a degree in BA (Hons) English at the University of Sussex. Over the next forty years rose to national and international prominence as an author, biographer and documentary film maker. Cate is currently working on the biography of Alma Mahler, widow of composer Gustav Mahler.
In November 2014 she published her biography/monograph of Scottish painter Craigie Aitchison and in 2010 published the biography/monograph of Cumbrian expressionist landscape painter, Sheila Fell. Her literary works include a group biography of British Prime Ministers’ spouses: The Goldfish Bowl; Nazi Women – about women in Nazi Germany; Rules of Desire – on sexual mores in the 20th century and Keep the Home Fires Burning, an exploration of British propaganda in the First World War.
Cate’s connection with Cumbria began in the 1970’s when her marriage to Cumbrian, Melvyn Bragg brought her to the county. Their children (born 1977 and 1980) spent every childhood holiday in the hills and the Northern Fells whilst growing up, and share her love and attachment to the county.
[NOTE: Melvyn Bragg and Cate Haste separated amicably June 2016.]
Eric A Martlew
For his lifelong and outstanding contribution to public service to the City of Carlisle (awarded July 2016).
Eric Martlew was born in 1949 and grew up in Carlisle. He was educated at Harraby Secondary School and then Carlisle College. Eric joined the Nestle Company in 1966 as a laboratory technician. He was the Human Resources Manager when he left in 1987. During this time Eric was elected to Carlisle City Borough Council in 1972. Between 1973 to 1988 he was the Cumbria County Councillor for the Denton Holme Ward and chair between 1983 and 1985 and was chair of the Cumbria Health Authority between 1977 and 1979.
In 1987 Eric was elected as Labour MP for Carlisle and resigned his job at Nestlé to devote his time to political life and his seat in the House of Commons. He remained in office until he retired at the 2010 general election. Eric’s political interests include transport, health, social services, agriculture and defence. He formed and chaired the West Coast Mainline group and helped save the Settle-Carlisle railway line. He attracted attention and funds to Carlisle for projects such as the western bypass, academy schools and the Cumberland Infirmary.
Eric initiated the early discussions which led to the formation of the University of Cumbria and has always been a strong advocate for its continuing development. Since retiring full-time from politics Eric continues to remain involved in public service and community interests. He is Vice-President of the Friends of the Carlisle-Settle Railway and a governor of the North Cumbria University Trust. In March 2016 Eric was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of Carlisle for his outstanding contribution to the community. Eric is currently Chair of the Former MP’s Association and a member of the national NHS committee that recommends on the treatment of pancreatic and liver disease and works with Pancreatic Cancer UK raising awareness.
Jancis Robinson OBE MW MA Oxon D Univ
For her lifelong and outstanding contribution to media and the wine industry (awarded July 2016).
Jancis Robinson was born in Carlisle, Cumbria and was educated at the Carlisle County High School for Girls where she was head girl. In 1971 she graduated from St Anne’s College, Oxford with a Masters degree in Maths and Philosophy. Her wine writing career started in December 1975 as assistant editor of the British wine trade magazine Wine & Spirit.
In 1978 she was the top Diploma student with the Wine & Education Trust and in 1984 passed the Master of Wine exams. Over the next forty years Jancis rose to global prominence as a particularly highly respected, impartial wine critic, journalist, author and editor.
In the early 1990s with her husband, the food and restaurant critic, Nick Lander started their own TV production company, Eden Productions, and she wrote and narrated numerous television documentaries. Her autobiographical memoir was published in 1997 known as Tasting Pleasure in the US and Confessions of a Wine Lover everywhere else. She has edited four editions of the Oxford Companion to Wine and co-authored four editions of The World Atlas of Wine.
Jancis has been recognised annually with national and international awards and accolades for her writing, television productions, social media and as a wine critic. Since early 2005 she has been a member of the Royal Household Wine Committee, choosing wines for the monarch to serve to their guests. In 2018 she launched her own glassware. In 2021 she sold JancisRobinson.com to the US digital publisher Recurrent Ventures but remains as Editor in Chief. In February 2022 BBC Maestro launched an online wine course hosted by Jancis.
For their outstanding services to charity as founders of ‘Every Action Has Consequences’ in honour of their son, Adam Rogers (awarded July 2016).
(David Rogers MBE deceased July 2021)
In 2005 Adam Rogers, enrolled on a BA (Hons) Coaching and Sport Performance degree course at the University of Cumbria. Upon graduating he was coaching Padiham Ladies Football Team and working at a Fitness Centre. On 5 July 2009 when on a night out with friends in Blackburn town centre, Adam was killed by a single punch to the face whilst trying to act as a peacemaker and preventing a fight. Although still in shock his parents, Pat and David, knew instinctively they had to find something positive to help them find a way to cope. They channelled their anger and grief into setting up the charity ‘Every Action Has Consequences’ with the aim of working with young people to challenge attitudes to violence and binge drinking. The materials produced have reached over 3 million young people all round the UK. Youth Offending Teams and in prisons as part of victim awareness and rehabilitation work. Another important aspect of their work is ‘Gift of Life’ where young people are encouraged to discuss their wishes with family. Adam was an organ donor and 5 people were given a gift from his short life.
David died on 17 July 2021. The pandemic was difficult both for the charity and personally. David did his last presentation in Liverpool in January 2020. Pat and her son Tim continue to work voluntarily for the charity. Life without the inspirational and much-loved David is hard but we know that he would want us to continue with the work in memory of Adam. Pat was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours list for services to young people.
For his lifelong and outstanding contribution to the preservation of heritage and cultural tourism. (Awarded November 2016 posthumously).
Christopher’s love of historical buildings began at an early age, spending his holidays on archaeological digs. In 1985, whilst on holiday in the Lake District he came across the partly derelict building of Brougham Hall, that the Victorians had dubbed ‘the Windsor of the North’ and recognised its deep historical significance. He persuaded the then owners to sell him the building and so began an ambitious restoration project. Over the past three decades, under Christopher’s leadership, the building and its grounds have become a hub of historical research, training in traditional restoration techniques, and cultural activities. In October of this year, Christopher’s mission to restore a crumbling historic hall was finally recognised when Heritage England announced that Brougham Hall has been transformed so drastically it is no longer considered ‘at risk’, calling it a valued visitor attraction with a community centre to train the craftsmen of the future – an accolade of which he would have been so proud.
for his outstanding contribution to education. (awarded November 2016)
Stephen Cox is the Chief Executive Officer of Osiris Educational and founder of The World Education Summit. Osiris is the largest specialist independent training group in education, working with more than 16,000 schools and training more than 500,000 teachers and leaders across 90+ countries. Specialist areas include Visible Learning (with John Hattie), independent Learning, the award-winning OTI programme for teaching excellence and Instructional Leadership.
In 2012 Osiris formalized its connection with the University of Cumbria and are proud to have sponsored an academic post: The Osiris Chair in Psychology of Education for Professor Barry Hymer, which allowed for the development of his pioneering approach to embedding Growth Mindset practices across schools. The Osiris teaching schools’ movement has been widely used by students at the University of Cumbria whilst on teacher placements in schools. It has supported academic staff and students in gaining a broader understanding of the psychology of a child’s ability to learn, interpret their learning and develop a curiosity for knowledge and skills.
