
Inspirational honorary graduates celebrated at Stirling University's summer graduation
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees at next week's summer graduation at Stirling University.
Margot, a Swedish parliamentarian who pioneered the world's first feminist foreign policy and is a passionate advocate for the environment, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her outstanding contribution to protecting the environment and championing women's rights at Wednesday's ceremony.
Across her illustrious political career, Margot has held a number of senior roles including serving as the first ever Vice President of the European Commission, the first United Nations Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative.
The same day, Lynda Morrison, who has volunteered 20 years of her life to helping shape the delivery of social work and nursing education through the University of Stirling's Service User and Carer Group (UNITY), will receive an honorary Master of Arts degree. She will be recognised for her long and meritorious voluntary service to social work and social work education, and to improving the lives of service users nationally and internationally.
The UNITY group, which Lynda was instrumental in setting up in 2005, has attracted national and international recognition for being one of the first to involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of teaching to social work and nursing students.
On Thursday, Paul Bush OBE, the former director of events for VisitScotland who played a vital role in bringing major spectacles including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and UEFA Euro 2020 to Scotland, will receive an Honorary Doctorate. He will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to sport and to the events industry in the country.
He is a previous chief executive of Scottish Swimming and, while in that role, worked closely with the University of Stirling in developing the state-of-the-art National Swimming Academy. Alongside the facility, he built a professional coaching and performance management structure for the sport which led to significant and continuing international success.
Paul will be joined by Nicky Reid, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust, who will also be made a Doctor of the University for her outstanding contribution to charity and exceptional leadership qualities.
Nicky achieved a Film, Media and Sociology degree from the University of Stirling in 2007 and went on to hold the position of Learning Centre Manager at Falkirk Football Club.
Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: 'Summer graduation is always a special highlight in the university calendar, and we are delighted that those celebrating next week will be joined by four inspiring role models.
'Each of our honorary graduates has made a lasting impact in their fields, contributing in powerful and enduring ways to society. We are proud to recognise their achievements and know that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the University.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Inspirational honorary graduates celebrated at Stirling University's summer graduation
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees at next week's summer graduation at Stirling University. Margot, a Swedish parliamentarian who pioneered the world's first feminist foreign policy and is a passionate advocate for the environment, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her outstanding contribution to protecting the environment and championing women's rights at Wednesday's ceremony. Across her illustrious political career, Margot has held a number of senior roles including serving as the first ever Vice President of the European Commission, the first United Nations Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative. The same day, Lynda Morrison, who has volunteered 20 years of her life to helping shape the delivery of social work and nursing education through the University of Stirling's Service User and Carer Group (UNITY), will receive an honorary Master of Arts degree. She will be recognised for her long and meritorious voluntary service to social work and social work education, and to improving the lives of service users nationally and internationally. The UNITY group, which Lynda was instrumental in setting up in 2005, has attracted national and international recognition for being one of the first to involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of teaching to social work and nursing students. On Thursday, Paul Bush OBE, the former director of events for VisitScotland who played a vital role in bringing major spectacles including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and UEFA Euro 2020 to Scotland, will receive an Honorary Doctorate. He will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to sport and to the events industry in the country. He is a previous chief executive of Scottish Swimming and, while in that role, worked closely with the University of Stirling in developing the state-of-the-art National Swimming Academy. Alongside the facility, he built a professional coaching and performance management structure for the sport which led to significant and continuing international success. Paul will be joined by Nicky Reid, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust, who will also be made a Doctor of the University for her outstanding contribution to charity and exceptional leadership qualities. Nicky achieved a Film, Media and Sociology degree from the University of Stirling in 2007 and went on to hold the position of Learning Centre Manager at Falkirk Football Club. Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: 'Summer graduation is always a special highlight in the university calendar, and we are delighted that those celebrating next week will be joined by four inspiring role models. 'Each of our honorary graduates has made a lasting impact in their fields, contributing in powerful and enduring ways to society. We are proud to recognise their achievements and know that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the University.'


Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Florian Wirtz to earn four times Luiz Diaz and double England star at Liverpool
Florian Wirtz will become one of Liverpool's highest earners when he completes his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, with his wages eclipsing many of the current crop of players Florian Wirtz will make almost four times as much as Luis Diaz while playing for Liverpool. The attacking-midfielder arrived in the north west on Friday to complete a £116million switch from Bayer Leverkusen, which will make him not only Liverpool's record club-signing, but also one of the highest-paid players on the current wage bill. Darwin Nunez currently holds the record for most cash spent on a player, arriving from Benfica in 2022 in a deal worth up to as much as £85m, including add-ons. However, 22-year-old Wirtz will trump that figure and then some when he signs on the dotted line. Meanwhile, Wirtz is expected to be compensated generously over the course of a reported five-year contract, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that the German national will receive £200,000 per week for his efforts, plus bonuses. For context, that's almost four times the £55,000 per week that Diaz currently receives, according to Spotrac. Mohamed Salah is the club's highest-paid star at present, reportedly raking in £400,000 per week as a result of his new deal, while Capology reports that Virgil van Dijk commands a weekly wage of around £350K. Wirtz will also earn more than Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch if rumours ring true, given that the midfielders earn a salary of £150,000 per week. Wirtz will also make more than double what England international Joe Gomez earns, with the 28-year-old centre-half on a salary of around £85,000 per week. Fresh from winning the Premier League this season, Arne Slot has wasted no time in bolstering his squad with hopes of defending the title in 2025/26. The Dutchman recruited full-back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen on a five-year deal at the end of May after activating the 24-year-old's £29.5m release clause in the wake of Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid. It appears as though he is keen on strengthening his defence further with the acquisition of Crystal Palace centre-half Marc Guehi. While Liverpool have made no formal offer for Guehi just yet, the Reds may be in the best position to secure his services should they decide to. The 24-year-old has entered the last year of his contract with the Eagles, but a deal will not come cheap, as evidenced by Newcastle United seeing four bids rejected for him last summer. Tottenham, meanwhile, have reportedly offered a package worth up to £70m to entice Guehi to north London in January, but saw their advances pushed back. Wirtz's arrival comes as Liverpool may look to break their own record transfer twice in the same summer, with Slot reportedly keen on signing Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. The Swedish national has set the Premier League alight since making his way to St. James' Park from Real Sociedad in a £63m move back in 2022, scoring 62 goals in 109 games. However, should Liverpool hope to pry the 25-year-old away from the club he is seemingly settled at, they will have to pay a ridiculous amount of money. Under contract until 2028, Newcastle have slapped a hefty £150m price tag on Isak this summer, and Eddie Howe has reportedly urged the board not to let the talisman leave. He said: "Alex is under contract, we love him to bits, and we want him to stay. We want him to keep scoring goals for Newcastle for many years. That's my plan." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Astonishing Bob MacIntyre moment of self awareness leaves golf's best commentator awestruck
MacIntyre has minerals says Tour mate and will deliver big-time at Ryder Cup Brandel Chamblee reckons Bob MacIntyre's drone move was moment was the knew the Scottish star was set to join the elite. The Oban hero has rocketed up the world standings and taken another huge step in is career after a brilliant runner-up finish at the US Open. MacIntyre was denied at the death at Oakmont when victor JJ Spaun holed a monster putt on the final green of the tournament to snatch the title. The Tartan star's response to the heartbreak was to applaud and that, in itself, brought him a new army of fans with Chamblee, an ex-Tour pro and now respected TV broadcaster, blown away at the levels of sporstmanship shown. But Chamblee has pointed back to an incident during MacIntyre's run towards a maiden PGA Tour win in Canada 12 months ago as the time when he could see for himself that the kid was destined for glory. MacIntyre took issue with an on-course drone buzzing above his head as he took shots in his final round and ordered its removal before going to lift the trophy. On the performance and applause at Oakmont, Chamblee said: 'What a moment that was. What a phenomenal round of golf, almost good enough to win a US Open and to see him react that way. Look, the average Tour pro three putts more often from 32 feet than they make it, so your odds are more likely that you are going to three putt from 32 feet than you are going to make it. 64 feet is twice that. So Robert, you're sitting there, you're thinking: He's probably got a 10 per cent chance of three putting this, Maybe more. I've got a chance, I'm still in this. Then he makes it and his initial reaction is to applaud him. That's the height of sportsmanship right there. Can't say enough great things about Robert McIntyre. 'He got up on 17 and, not unlike JJ Spaun, and hit a fabulous tee shot. I think I heard him say, be right, or be the right club. And I thought, golly. And then he striped it on 18 as well, so I can't say enough nice things about him. I was a fan before. I'm a bigger fan now. I'll never watch him again without thinking about that [applauding] moment.' Speaking on the Sky Sports golf podcast, Chamblee then gave his Canada recollection and added: 'There was a moment last year when he was contending in the Canadian Open, and he eventually won it, where I was so impressed with his ability in the moment because the drones were bothering him. You remember this? Look, drones are a thing and everybody likes them, I like them and they're great, but for him to have the clear-headedness to back away and say: I'm not hitting this shot until you move that drone, I thought that just spoke volumes about his belief. And look, it's a trend, i's so easy just to say, everybody's doing this, I'm going to look bad if I persist and say I'm not hitting this shot. No, he didn't. He didn't do it in a mean way at all, he moved the drone, and he hit it, and he went on to win. And then he won the Scottish Open. Those were great moments. MacIntyre's fellow pro Matt Wallace also poured praise onto the Scot during the show and said: 'Yeah, he's got minerals. He's not afraid to win as we've seen. I think the win in Canada really gave him a belief. When you get that win amongst the crowd that you're against, you can go: Well, I've done it. I can win anywhere now. And so that was just another notch in his career that he's going to get into. 'He's a phenomenal, phenomenal ball-striker, underrated ball-striker, probably. Stats will show some things, but from a pure ball-striking perspective, he gets club on ball out of the middle very, very often. We've got the same putting coach. I know it's been part of his weakness where he's trying to improve on that a lot and the guy's ballsy. It's always nice to be able to do that in the moment and he wasn't shying away. He produced at the end.' MacIntyre's display has rocketed him up the Ryder Cup points standings and he looks set to play for Europe against United States in September at Bethpage having made a winning debut in Rome. Wallace has a bold prediction on New York as regards the Scot as he said: 'Just on the Ryder Cup, I watched them in the last one with Rosie [Justin Rose] in Rome and Bobby was kind of a little bit shaky, which is obvious. Rosie really helped him along. Trust me, Bobby McIntyre will deliver at this Ryder Cup because he isn't afraid of anyone now.'