Olympic champion Weston to receive university honour

Olympic gold medallist Matt Weston is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Kent during graduation ceremonies in Canterbury.

The Team GB skeleton racer, who won gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Games earlier this year, will be awarded a Doctor of the University degree on Monday.

The honour is one of several being presented by the university, including Matt Green, known as The Rapping Science Teacher and the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury.

The University of Kent said the awards recognised people who had made "exceptional contributions" in fields including sport, education, community service and the arts.

Weston is from Crowborough, East Sussex. He was born in Redhill, Surrey, and went to Bennett Memorial School in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

He won solo and team gold with skeleton partner Tabitha Stoecker in his second Winter Olympics, having finished 15th in Beijing in 2022.

Green, who has almost 3 million followers and is known for his unique 'edutaining' technique combining music and science is being awarded a Doctor of Science.

The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who is the first Black woman to become a bishop in the Church of England, will receive a Doctor of Divinity.

The ceremonies form part of the university's annual graduation celebrations, which are taking place in Rochester and Canterbury cathedrals.

Other honorary graduates include Herne Bay charity founder Maya Amangeldiyeva, disability rights expert Prof Tom Shakespeare, Veetee Rice founder Moni Varma and barrister Bernard Richmond KC.

The comedy trio Pappy's, whose members met while studying at the university, will also receive honorary degrees.

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