Goldsmiths to honour Sarah Waters, Thomas Heatherwick, Lord Giddens and Zoe Williams

More than 920 Goldsmiths, University of London students will cross the Great Hall stage in front of almost 2,000 family members and guests next week.

At our July Graduation Ceremonies on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 July Goldsmiths will also honour four distinguished figures from the worlds of sociology, literature, design and journalism.

Goldsmiths' Warden Patrick Loughrey says: “Each year Goldsmiths welcomes a small number of distinguished individuals into our Fellowship, or bestows honorary degrees in recognition of individuals’ achievements and contributions to our university, community, or the wider world.

"Our Honorands’ achievements reflect the values so important to the Goldsmiths community: creativity, originality, and a pioneering and fearless spirit."

They dare to think differently, challenge norms, and prove a brilliant inspiration for our future, current, and graduating students.

The following are the receive Honorary Fellowships of Goldsmiths, University of London:

Sarah Waters

Camberwell-based Welsh novelist Sarah Waters graduated from the Universities of Kent and Lancaster, before completing a PhD at Queen Mary on lesbian and gay historical fictions from 1870. Her books include Tipping the Velvet (1998), The Night Watch (2006) and The Paying Guests (2014). The latter is set in South London in 1922 and features many local landmarks, from Ruskin Park to Brixton Roller Skating Rink.

Sarah is a former Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and has been shortlisted multiple times for the Man Booker Prize, Orange Prize and Bailey’s Prize for Women. Many of her novels have been adapted for stage, BBC, or ITV, attracting BAFTA nominations. Read more about Sarah's Honorary Fellowship in Diva Magazine and The Bookseller.

Thomas Heatherwick

Thomas Heatherwick studied design at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal College of Art before founding Heatherwick Studio in 1994. Known for its imaginative work in architecture, infrastructure, sculpture, design and strategic thinking, the studio now employees some 180 people.

Heatherwick’s work includes nationally significant projects, such as the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the New Bus for London. In 2013 he was awarded a CBE for services to design. 

Zoe Williams

Journalist, critic and author Zoe Williams studied Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford. Zoe has written for the Guardian since 2000, while contributing columns on a variety of subjects across other publications, including the Evening Standard, New Statesman, Marie Claire and the London Cyclist.

She is a political commentator, motoring columnist, former food critic, regular face on current affairs TV shows, and the author of two books, one on parenting, one on politics. Zoe is a former Orwell Prize nominee and winner of numerous Writer of the Year awards.

 

Professor Lord Anthony Giddens is to receive an Honorary Degree of the University of London:

Professor Lord Anthony Giddens

Lord Giddens is a Labour Peer, former Director of the London School of Economics, Life Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and one of the best known figures in modern sociology.

He is the author or editor of some 40 books translated into 40 languages and is known for his interdisciplinary approach and holistic view of modern societies. Lord Giddens was educated at Hull, LSE, and Cambridge and joined the Lords in 2004.