September 2004
Lead Stories

Edinburgh Honour for Chancellor

Chancellor of the University Baroness Lockwood received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh for her "amazingly diverse service and commitment".

Baroness Lockwood was in the Scottish capital to receive the honour and hear a laureation address from Edinburgh's Senior Vice-Principal Professor Michael Anderson.

Professor Anderson charted Baroness Lockwood's rise from her upbringing as a miner's daughter to her major role in the House of Lords.

He recalled how she was appointed as the first Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission charged with delivering its promise.

Professor Anderson said: "But that did not stop Betty Lockwood from challenging employers, educators, Government, and women in general to grasp the culture changes required.

"She provocatively urged women to stop regarding 'marriage as a terminal occupation', argued controversially that laws against women doing nightwork and working in mines actually worked against their interests, and attacked anachronistic social security and taxation systems, including the fact that men had to wait five years longer than women for their pensions."

He concluded: "Her boundless energy and commitment go further, actively supporting myriad voluntary organisations".

He asked the University to offer the doctorate "in recognition of a life of amazingly diverse service and commitment across an enormous range of activities".

28 September 2004

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