Damehood for MMU Professor Carol Ann

MMU PROFESSOR of Contemporary Poetry, and Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School, Carol Ann Duffy was awarded a damehood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

Dame Carol Ann said: "I am delighted that the long tradition of the Laureateship and poetry in general are part of these celebrations. We have many wonderful poets in this country and it is a privilege to represent them."

The first female Poet Laureate, Dame Carol Ann was given the honour in recognition of her services to poetry.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks said: "The awarding of a damehood to Carol Ann at the midway point of her laureateship is a great way to reward and celebrate the generosity with which she has infused the role.”

Promoting poetry

James Draper, manager of the Manchester Writing School, said: “Carol Ann has opened up opportunities for other poets by involving established writers in large-scale projects and commissions.

“She has encouraged and nurtured new voices as we see here with poetry students in the Manchester Writing School at MMU and through the many prizes and competitions she has started and supported, and future poets through her national Laureate Education Projects in schools up and down the country."

Dame Carol Ann was first awarded an OBE in 1995, and a CBE in 2005.

Projects she has led at MMU include the Manchester Writing prize, the Manchester Children’s Book Festival and the Mother Tongue Other Tongue education project.

Charitable services

MMU Chancellor Dianne Thompson was also made a dame in the honours list.

Dame Dianne, who retired from her role as Group Chief Executive of Camelot last year, became Chancellor of the University in 2011.

She was given the honour in recognition of her work “for services to the National Lottery and charitable services.”

Childline founder Esther Rantzen, who was given an honorary degree by MMU last summer in recognition of her work with vulnerable people, was also made a dame. Businessman Robert Hough, who was made an honorary Doctor of Business Administration in 1996, was given a CBE.