INTREPID BBC reporter John Simpson and famed stage and screen actor Michael Gambon head a list of the great and the good to be awarded honorary degrees by Southampton University this year.

As students sporting mortarboards and clutching scrolls are awarded their degrees in July, the university takes the opportunity to honour public figures for their achievements.

The biggest name is Sir Michael Gambon, who has been one of Britain's best loved character actors for years. Starting out on the stage, then TV with The Singing Detective, his extensive back catalogue of films includes The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover as well as many more recent hits such as Gosford Park and even Ali G In Da House. His stock is set to rise still further with his imminent appearance in the next Harry Potter film outing, replacing the sadly deceased Richard Harris as professor Dumbledore. Sir Michael receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

John Simpson is a familiar face to the nation after reporting from 30 war-zones and 100 countries for the BBC where he holds the post of World Affairs editor. Famously, he was the first man into Kabul in Afghanistan when it was liberated by American forces. During the recent conflict in Iraq, he was again on the front line and narrowly escaped serious injury when a convoy he was travelling in came under fire from an American plane. He receives the honorary degree of Doctor of the University.

Dame Stephanie Shirley was the first female president of the British Computer Society and is probably the best known woman in computer science in the UK. In 1962, she started her own company and in 25 years as its chief executive she developed it into a leading business technology group, pioneering new work practices and changing the position of professional women along the way. Dame Shirley is being awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

As Under Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations, Jayantha Dhanapala has made a major contribution to multilateral disarmament over many years. Through these efforts he has developed a close relationship with the university's Mountbatten Centre for International Studies. He receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Sciences.

As a schoolboy in Southampton, Professor Sir Richard Peto attended Richard Taunton's School (now the site of the university's Avenue Campus). One of the world's leading cancer scientists, his work has included studies of the causes of cancer in general, and of the effects of smoking in particular. He receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

Southampton graduate Professor Dame Pauline Fielding is one of the country's leading authorities on nursing management and has been an advisor to many national committees. She was awarded the DBE in 1999 for services to nursing. Dame Pauline receives the honorary degree of Doctor of the University.

Professor John E Ffowcs-Williams studied for both his first degree and doctorate at Southampton (where he held a Spitfire Mitchell Memorial Scholarship) and was also president of the university Students' Union. He has been an outstanding contributor to the subject of acoustics and in particular to the study of aerodynamically-generated sounds. Professor Ffowcs-Williams is receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

Chairman of the House of Lords Committee on Science and Technology Lord Ron Oxburgh was chief scientific advisor to the Ministry of Defence from 1988 to 1993. He has made significant contributions to the development of engineering and medical science in higher education and receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

Norman Rosenthal, exhibitions secretary of the Royal Academy of Arts since 1977, is one of the leading figures in the art world. At the RA he has been responsible for some of the most influential exhibitions of recent times and is credited with transforming the academy. He receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

Lord Justice Stephen Sedley has been a Lord Justice of Appeal since 1999 and has sat as the UK judge in the European Court of Human Rights.

He has been prominent in the introduction of human rights law in Britain and has played a complementary role in making the Human Rights Act work through one of the greatest programmes of judicial education ever undertaken. He receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.