Honorary graduands - Monday 12 July

Kuljit  Bhamra is one of the most inspiring and influential musician, composer and record producers on the British Asian music scene. Kuljit has composed and produced over 2,000 songs and is responsible for the rise to fame of numerous Bhangra and Bollywood stars. 

He has worked, both independently and collaboratively, on film scores for over ten years, including the soundtrack for the award winning Bhaji on the Beach, A Winter of Love, Bend it Like Beckham, Brick Lane and Charley & the Chocolate Factory, without forgetting his collaboration with Lloyd Webber on the musical Bombay Dreams. His artistic leadership of the Southall project in west London as well as cutting edge projects and passion for creating systems whereby musicians from varied cultures may perform repertoire together earned him the award of MBE for Services to Bhangra and British Asian Music in the Queen’s birthday honours of 2009.

Professor Chris McCullough, lecturer in Drama who gave the oration, also said. ‘Amidst the myriad of Kuljit’s achievements is his contribution to the Southall Story as its Artistic Director. The Southall Project celebrates this district of West London that has a tradition of welcoming West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, as well as Sikhs from Afghanistan - throughout the last century, enabling them to excel and influence both the social and political structures of this country. 

He added, ‘Kuljit Bhamra is an international virtuoso musician and composer, community leader and inspiration to us all in the many varied and rich cultures that together form what it means to be British today.’

The University’s initial link with Kuljit was through his association with the prestigious British Asian research project in the Drama Department.

Dame Julia Cleverdon will also receive an honorary degree (LLD) today.

Dame Julia Cleverdon is principally known for the formidable reputation she has acquired as a renowned leader and challenging speaker on business leadership, corporate responsibility and women’s development. She has been acclaimed for achieving real innovation and behaviour change in the boardrooms of the UK and internationally while Chief Executive of Business in the Community from April 1992 to March 2008.

Under her leadership the business-led organisation grew from £2 million to £24 million turnover with 400 staff and encompassed 800 member companies committed to improving their positive impact on society. Inspiring business to collaborate together to tackle community need, stem climate change, promote diversity and harness the engagement of employees in education were the hallmarks of Julia’s achievement.

Her energies in promoting responsible business practice and the significant impact and track record of her work continues in her two new roles – as a Vice President of Business in the Community, and as a Special Adviser to the Prince’s Charities on responsible business practice. She was listed by The Times as one of the 50 most influential women in Britain. She was appointed CBE in 1996 and CVO in 2002 and a DCVO in 2008.