2013 | University of Cumbria

Honorary fellowships were conferred on the following people in the July and November ceremonies of 2013.

July ceremonies

Anne Attwood

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to further and higher education in Cumbria.

Anne trained as a primary school teacher, but worked for twelve years in secondary schools in Widnes and Middlesbrough. With a passion for promoting drama in the classroom and theatre on stage, she moved to the North East in 1980 to be head of drama in an 11-16 secondary school followed by a move to Stockton & Billingham Technical College.

Her leadership skills quickly developed and she became Executive Director at Furness College in 2001 and then Principal in 2003, helping to improve the Colleges OFSTED results, acquire funding for a new campus and academy, and to develop partnerships with the University of Cumbria, dramatically enhancing the FE provision in Barrow and the surrounding area. Anne retired from Furness College in 2015 but still loves living in Cumbria.

Lord Dale Campbell-Savours

In recognition of his support to higher education in Cumbria and his outstanding contribution to the economy of West Cumbria. (awarded July 2013)

Born in 1943, Dale Campbell-Savours was educated at the Keswick Grammar School and at The Sorbonne in Paris, spending his formative years hitchhiking through Europe and the Middle East. On his return, he set up a clock manufacturing company in Lancashire. His clocks sold worldwide under the trading name of Xavier of London and are still available today.

He joined the Labour Party in 1965 and was elected to Ramsbottom Urban District Council. In 1976, he sold his manufacturing company, moved to Workington and elected MP for the town in 1979, holding the seat for 21 years until his retirement following a long period of ill health.

He was created Lord Campbell-Savours of Allerdale in 2001. Dale held several shadow ministerial responsibilities in the 1990s including portfolios for overseas development and agriculture. He gave evidence to the Nolan commission on standards in public life with many of his recommendations being implemented.

In 1986 he began a campaign challenging the operations of the official Secrets Act. He was a former member of the Security and Intelligence committee monitoring MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. In 1991, he proposed the Supplementary Vote a new electoral system subsequently adopted by government in 1999. In 1993, he proposed the introduction of a national cattle identity scheme which was subsequently established in Workington under British Cattle Movement Service in 1998. In 1995 he proposed a “University of the Lakes” leading to a government working party and the eventual establishment of the University of Cumbria in 2007.

Nigel Couzens

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Energy Coast Campus. (awarded July 2013)

Nigel was born in Bristol and joined the Royal Navy, completing a Commission as an Officer in the Submarine Service. Whilst on duty, he met his wife in Workington, and moved to the town and started his family. Since residing in the county, he has worked at Sellafield Ltd, Cumbria Training and Enterprise Council, Cumbria Learning and Skills Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Energus, where he was the Executive Director. In partnership with the University of Cumbria, GENII, Lakes College, Sellafield Ltd and the University of Manchester, Energus became a Centre of Excellence with a focus on training, education and research capacity and capability for the energy sector.

Having recently spent a period of time with Babcock International Group as their Head of Nuclear Skills and Learning he led the operation and development of training within a number of major Nuclear sector employers across the UK and abroad. He returned to Cumbria at the end of 2018 to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) within the Human Resources team. Based in West Cumbria Nigel supports the Northern Division of the CNC and is working with the University of Cumbria to develop employer led armed policing initiatives and programmes.

Jeff Cowton MBE

In recognition of his lifelong service to the Wordsworth Trust and his outstanding contribution to the wider museum sector. (awarded July 2013)

Jeff Cowton was born in Alnwick in 1959 and graduated with a degree in Modern History from the University of Leeds in 1980, taking up a temporary post as a guide at Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage in Grasmere a year later. In 1983 he was appointed Librarian, later becoming Principal Curator and Head of Learning leading the Trust’s Curatorial and Learning Team. In 2025 he moved to a consultancy role and began study for a PhD with Northumbria University on the Newcastle engraving workshop of Ralph Beilby and Thomas Bewick.

In his time at the Trust, Jeff led the development and management of the Trust’s ‘Designated Collection’ of manuscripts, books and fine art. In 2005, he oversaw the move of the collection into the Jerwood Centre, a state-of-the-art storage and research facility. More recently, he led the reinterpretation of the displays in the museum and Dove Cottage as part of 'Reimagining Wordsworth', opening as ‘Wordsworth Grasmere’ in 2021. Outside of Grasmere, Jeff led initiatives into community-based work (especially programmes designed for people with extra needs) and developed a strong network with universities worldwide. Over the last 30 years Jeff developed a training programme which has seen hundreds of young people gain their first experience of museum work, and which included the delivery of the first cultural apprenticeship scheme in museums.

https://www.wordsworth.org.uk

Malcolm Wilson OBE

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the motorsport industry and business in the Cumbrian community. (awarded July 2013)

Malcolm Wilson was born in 1956 and attended Cockermouth School before joining the family business selling motor vehicle parts. Inspired by the British rally driver, the late Roger Clark, Malcolm pursued a career in the motorsport industry from an early age and has almost 40 years’ experience of rallying at World Championship level. As a driver, he won two British national titles in the late 1970’s and achieved a long-held ambition by winning the British International crown in 1994.
Malcolm Wilson Motorsport Limited was founded in 1979 and changed its name to M-Sport in 1996 when the company was awarded the Ford contract for rallying and for research and development. The team under Malcolm’s leadership has enjoyed much success, including lifting the WRC Manufacturers’ trophy two years in succession in 2006 and 2007, the WRC Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in 2017 and the WRC Drivers’ Championship trophy again in 2018.

In its mission to be a world leader in rallying, M-Sport also operates a thriving customer support business for private teams. Assisting Ford drivers with motorsport programmes around the world and establishing a true Ladder of Opportunity, they are the only manufacturer to offer a car across all levels of the FIA Rally Pyramid and the biggest manufacturer of Ford racing vehicles in the world.

In 2013 the company caught the eye of Bentley Motors and embarked on a new venture on the racetrack – selected to spearhead the design and development of the luxury manufacturer’s Continental GT3. Completing the first car in just six months, the Continental GT3 went on to secure considerable success and became the car of choice for several works-supported teams around the globe.

In 2018, M-Sport also entered the world of electric motorsport as Jaguar’s technical partner in the I PACE eTROPHY. Running alongside the FIA Formula E Championship, the zero-emission series completed two seasons and was M-Sport’s first step into sustainable motorsport – a concept further developed with the introduction of hybrid technology in the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship and TOCA BTCC engine.

As well as its main Dovenby Hall operations on the edge of the UNESCO English Lake District National Park, M Sport has expanded to include a European base with a state-of-the-art facility in Krakow, Poland – where lays responsibility for all two-wheel-drive activities.

The UK base has also grown with the development of the M-Sport Evaluation Centre. The multi-million-pound facility includes a 2.5-kilometre test track and provides a unique centre of engineering excellence where leaders in automotive technology can follow concepts from design to production on one exclusively situated and expertly equipped site.

www.m-sport.co.uk

November ceremonies

Euan Cartwright

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of arts and culture and for service to higher education in Cumbria (awarded November 2013).

Euan was brought up and educated in Yorkshire where his father was a welder and Methodist lay preacher. He worked in youth and community work for several years, first in Birmingham, then in the Ardeche and in London. In 1977, he took responsibility for the community and recreation programmes at Ashford Borough Council, becoming Deputy Chief Officer. In 1983, Euan moved to Carlisle as Director of Leisure, leading the development of the Sands Centre and Tullie House. Euan joined the board of the Cumbria College of Art and Design in 1991 and became chair in 2005, chairing the shadow board which lead to the formation of the University of Cumbria in 2007. In August 2014 Euan Cartwright was Chair of the Board of Directors of the University of Cumbria from August 2014 – July 2018. Euan is a trustee of New Light (https://newlight-art.org.uk/) helping to deliver exhibitions of the finest northern visual arts to galleries across the north and in London.

Pam Eland

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the campaigning and advocacy of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights and responsibilities (awarded November 2013).

Pam Eland was born in 1968 in the village of Mealsgate near Wigton in Cumbria and after training as a hairdresser, and realising that it wasn't for her, she took up her first youth work job at Wigton YES centre which later became Wigton Youth Station.

In 2003 she completed a Diploma in Community and Youth Studies at St Martin’s College and several years later, joined Pride in North Cumbria; a support group for under 25’s who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or who are questioning their sexuality.

Pam is also the founder and trustee of Cumbria Pride, a highly successful one-day festival which brings people together in a celebration of diversity and was involved in the creation of Carlisle’s first dedicated LGBT venue; providing people with space where they can feel safe and have access to services and support.

Pam has developed and established the Rainbow Stripes Awards for businesses, organisations and groups to demonstrate their support of LGBTQ+ people in and outside of the workplace and aims to make this a national scheme. Pam is also planning on opening a further three LGBT cafes across Cumbria

Steve Holdup

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and the development of teachers. (awarded November 2013)

Steve Holdup was headteacher of Dallam School in Milnthorpe for 11 years. Under his leadership, Dallam developed outstanding boarding facilities, worldwide ranking students and an adventurous approach to the curriculum, securing £13m of capital investment at its Milnthorpe and Heversham sites. Uniquely, he established Dallam as an International Baccalaureate World School in 2007, becoming the first British Academy winner for the most innovative teaching of modern languages in the UK. Steve was a National Leader of Education for the National College for School Leadership and developed links for the area’s schools with partners in continental Europe and beyond and established a formal relationship with the Spanish Government to promote languages through bilingual learning. Under his leadership Dallam became the first Adventure Learning School in the country. He now grows olives in the South of Spain

Cedric Robinson MBE

In recognition of his outstanding service to the community and significant contribution to supporting charitable causes, both locally and globally. (awarded November 2013 | deceased 19 November 2021)

Chris Tomlinson OBE

In recognition of her outstanding service to tourism and business in Cumbria and for her charitable work in support of Cumbrian initiatives. (awarded November 2013)

Chris’s OBE was awarded in November 2002 in recognition of her outstanding service to tourism and business in Cumbria, and for her charitable work in support of Cumbrian initiatives. She is a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow and a former National Tourism Personality of the Year. She also received the Sir John Hunt Award that year in recognition for her work during the foot and mouth outbreak.

Chris lives with her husband near Windermere. She has a love of travel and the great outdoors, including walking the Lakeland Fells, skiing, tennis, cycling and sailing. She plays tennis for Heversham Tennis Club first team and, until recently, was captain of the Cumbria County Senior Ladies team. She is also active in her local church

Prior to taking early retirement, Chris was Chief Executive of Cumbria’s regeneration company, Cumbria Vision, having previously spent nine years as Chief Executive of Cumbria Tourist Board, or Cumbria Tourism as it is now known.

For many years she organised the Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year Awards and is involved in several other charitable ventures. In 2007 she spent time in Kazakhstan with Voluntary Service Overseas and remains in contact with friends that she made there. Chris is a member of the Grants Panel for Cumbria Community Foundation and is a Trustee of The Sir John Fisher Foundation.

Juliet Westoll MBE DL

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to service in Cumbria and her charitable work in supporting Cumbrian initiatives (awarded November 2013).

Juliet a farmer’s wife, mother and now grandmother. She trained as a Cordon bleu cook and a florist in London before coming north in 1981. She has had a long career of voluntary fundraising, organising charity events, and helping to run local Charities. Among these were Barnardos, The Maternity hospital (the Mum appeal), the NSPCC, for which she spearheaded the Full Stop campaign, she is now a Divisional Vice President and has run an annual fundraising event Cumbria Fair, which is held in November for the Charity which over 26 years raising over £275,000.

She is a Patron and a fundraiser for The Hospice at Home over many years. Also, a keen supporter of the Riding for the Disabled Association Carlisle Group (Chair for 25 years, and now is their President).

Juliet established a ‘Women of the Year’ event in Cumbria and organised this for 20 years. Juliet was part of the Fundraising Committee raising funds that restored and modernised the Carlisle Cathedral Fratry. She is a very active member of the PCC of her local Church, Kirkandrews-on-Esk and helped to set up their Friends committee. She and the committee have just completed a very successful appeal to raise £75,000 for urgent organ renovation work. She is a Trustee of the Cumbrian Churches Trust.

Juliet suffered from a slight hearing impediment for 20 years but lost all that remained of her hearing very suddenly in 2018, in 2020 she had a cochlear fitted which has been a huge benefit.

In 2010 she received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Cumbria. Juliet was invited to become a Deputy Lieutenant for the County in 2011 and served as the High Sheriff of Cumbria in 2012. She sat on the High Sheriff Association Council in London until she stepped down in 2018.