Sir Richard Leese receives honorary doctorate

SIR Richard Leese has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters for his outstanding contribution to the city of Manchester.

Sir Richard has been leader of Manchester City Council since 1996 and has overseen the city’s remarkable development, including becoming the first metropolitan region to be chosen for devolution.

He was presented with the degree at Manchester Metropolitan University’s graduation ceremony in front of family and graduates at the Bridgewater Hall on Friday (July 24).

Accepting the honorary doctorate, Sir Richard charted his journey from first being elected as a councillor in 1984 to leading Manchester from an old industrial city into one that is ‘full of life and vitality’.

Great city

“Many thanks to Manchester Metropolitan University for this great honour in awarding me this honorary degree,” he said.

“This city has been transformed by the endeavour and determination of tens of thousands of people. The University and many of its alumni have been an enormous part in making Manchester once again a great city.

“I look at the graduates that come across the stage and I see the people that will be taking this city forward. You have a chance to be part of an even more successful future.”

Recently, Sir Richard worked closely with the University on the five-year plan to develop the Birley site in Hulme to create a sustainable community campus.

Support

The result was the Birley campus featuring the Brooks building, which is home to the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, as well as student accommodation and community gardens.

He officially unveiled the main academic building earlier this year and praised it for opening up to the community.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press presented Sir Richard with the honorary doctorate and thanked him for his support of Manchester Met as it underwent its £350milion investment programme during the last decade.

Professor Press praised Sir Richard for overseeing the spectacular transformation Manchester witnessed during the last 20 years, adding: “It’s through his impressive leadership Manchester now competes with global cities and has its rightful place on the world stage.”