Pause carousel
Play carousel
Scottish singer and actress to be honoured at the ceremony on Friday 29 November
Photo credit: Simon Murphy
Abertay University is set to honour Scottish singer and actress Lorraine McIntosh with an honorary degree at its winter graduation ceremony.
The female vocalist, renowned as part of Scottish pop-rock band Deacon Blue, will become a Doctor of Arts, as she joins over 400 graduates at Caird Hall in Dundee on Friday 29 November 2024.
Lorraine has been a member of the band for over 35 years, during which time they have achieved international recognition and critical acclaim. With two UK number one albums and six Top Ten hits, the band has sold over seven million albums worldwide. Lorraine's powerful, soulful voice and dynamic stage presence have played a crucial role in defining the band's identity.
In addition to her successful music career, Lorraine has ventured into acting, making her debut in Ken Loach's film My Name is Joe in 1998. She continues to work in theatre and television, with recent performances in the crime drama Shetland, as well as productions from the National Theatre of Scotland and The Citizens Theatre, among others.
Throughout her career, Lorraine has also been actively involved with numerous charities. She currently serves as an ambassador for Glasgow’s Simon Community and SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund), having travelled with them to the Democratic Republic of Congo to raise awareness and combat the sexual abuse of women during conflict.
Among her causes, Lorraine is particularly passionate about tackling homelessness, having participated in various campaigns and fundraising activities dedicated to assisting homeless individuals and families in Scotland and beyond.
Professor Liz Bacon, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said:
I am thrilled to welcome Lorraine McIntosh to the Abertay family. Her outstanding contributions to music and the arts, coupled with her dedication to philanthropy, reflect the values we hold dear at Abertay. We are delighted to celebrate her achievements and to recognise her as a vital part of our community, and I am confident she will serve as a source of inspiration for this year's graduates and those who follow.
The ceremony will also award Honorary Fellowships to three distinguished individuals. Among them is John Burt OBE, a prominent leader in the further education sector who served as Principal of Angus College from 1996 to 2013 and later became an active member of Abertay’s Court, the University’s governing body.
Ian McDonald, who dedicated 40 years to the public sector as a Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy-registered accountant, will also be awarded an Honorary Fellowship. He served on Abertay’s Court for 14 years, contributing to several key committees, including the Audit and Risk Committee, as well as the Finance & Corporate Performance Committee.
The final Honorary Fellowship will be awarded to Gameelah Ghafoor, a three-time Abertay graduate who now heads the UK division at Candescent, an NCR spin-off. Under her leadership, she oversees global teams focused on developing cloud-based financial solutions, driving innovation and reliability in the industry.
