THE DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN SPECIAL GRADUATION CEREMONY AND BANCHORY SPORTS VILLAGE
Tuesday 14th January 2020
Engagement 1
The Duchess of Rothesay, Chancellor, University of Aberdeen, will attend a special graduation ceremony to confer honorary degrees upon Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Professor Janet Darbyshire. The Duchess will also present an award in recognition of outstanding service to the community at Elphinstone Hall, King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3EE.
Around 400 guests – University alumni, staff, students, supporters and civic and industry leaders – will attend the formal ceremony.
The event will see The Duchess of Rothesay, as Chancellor, confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws upon The Princess Royal marking her outstanding contribution to public life and sport for more than four decades, with much of her work relating to education and charities based in Scotland.
Professor Darbyshire will receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science for the significant impact she has made in clinical science over the past 40 years. Professor Darbyshire was awarded an OBE in 1996 and a CBE in 2010 for services to clinical sciences. In 2018, she was the first ever female recipient of the MRC Millennium Medal, awarded to an outstanding scientist who has made a major contribution to improve human health through world class medical research.
The Denis Law Legacy Trust will also be recognised at the ceremony, with The Principal’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Community. The Trust has worked with children and young people from across Aberdeen for many years. The organisation aims to reduce instances of youth crime and anti-social behaviour, promote heath and wellbeing and encourage inclusivity through sport, physical activity and creative endeavour.
During the ceremony the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir will sing a newly composed piece by the University’s Head of Music, Dr Phillip A. Cooke. A staff choir will also perform a newly written piece by the University’s Royal composer Professor Paul Mealor with words by Welsh poet Dr Grahame Davies.
After the ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses will meet and greet guests at a short reception.
Engagement 2
The Duchess of Rothesay will visit and formally open Banchory Sports Village, a new state-of-the-art facility from Aberdeenshire Council supported by community fundraising. Her Royal Highness will tour the leisure facilities and meet community users taking part in various activities around the centre.
The new Banchory Sports Village opened to the public in August 2019. The £8.5 million facility at Hill of Banchory has been funded by Aberdeenshire Council with help from North Banchory Company who supported both the development land and links with the local renewable biomass heating system.
In addition, Banchory Sports Village Trust raised £700,00 for the project through extensive community fundraising.
The new centre provides state-of-the-art sporting facilities including a six-lane swimming pool suitable for competitions, a training pool, three-court sports hall, fitness room, two squash courts and accompanying changing and cafe areas, as well as areas specially designed to meet the needs of people with complex care needs.
