Former swimmer Nick Gillingham and singers Graeme Danby and Valerie Reid are among the high achievers collecting awards at the ceremonies next week.

The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Fidler, said: "Our honoraries have all made highly significant contributions within their fields and will inspire our graduates as they celebrate their academic success and embark on their careers.

"We look forward to welcoming them and are proud to pay tribute to them."

Double Olympic medallist Nick Gillingham will receive an Honorary Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to swimming and support for young athletes in the North East.

The former World, European and Commonwealth Champion, is the senior competition manager for Tyne and Wear, ensuring all children in the area benefit from sport.

Husband and wife Graeme Danby and Valerie Reid have played at most of the world's finest opera houses with some of operas biggest names, including Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras and Lesley Garrett.

Also receiving awards during the week are former Education Secretary Estelle Morris and former Sunderland City Council leader Bob Symonds, businessman Lord Leitch, North East architect Alan Smith, eminent Egyptian physician Hossam Badrawi and First Secretary at the Irish Embassy in London, Derek Hannon.

Olympic medal winner Steve Cram will attend the week of ceremonies as Sunderland University's newly appointed Chancellor.

The athlete, who holds an Olympic silver medal and six Commonwealth gold medals, took over from Lord Puttnam, who retired from the cerFemonial post after 10 years.

The former middle-distance runner already has a strong relationship with the university going back 25 years.In 1983 he received his sports studies degree from Sunderland and three years later the athlete was back to receive his own Honorary Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to sport.