Corporate Awards for Cunard Line and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Liverpool John Moores University granted Corporate Awards to Cunard Line and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic at the first Winter Graduation Ceremony this afternoon. Both companies are celebrating their 175th anniversary years.

Fellowships and Awards are given to those who exemplify the LJMU ethos to 'dream, plan and achieve'. This can be demonstrated by outstanding national or international achievement in a given field and/or profession, or by a unique contribution to society.

Cunard Line is a British–American cruise line and Liverpool is a city that will forever be part of its history, having been Cunard’s home from the beginning in 1840, until 1967. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic, celebrating 175 years of operation in 2015, marking this occasion as the three Cunard ocean liners - the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria - sailed down the Mersey into Liverpool.  The company worked with Liverpool John Moores University to further celebrate this anniversary through an exhibition of Cunard collectibles, Life on the Ocean Wave, earlier this year.  This provided both the public and LJMU students and staff access to the history of the ocean liners. 

Former Liverpool Echo journalist Tony Storey, who has been writing and broadcasting about Cunard ships for 25 years since the QE2’s momentous first call at Liverpool in 1990, collected the award.  He spoke of the proud, historic and emotional attachments between Cunard Line and Liverpool, expressing how the city is still the company’s spiritual home, concluding that the Award from LJMU further emphasises these strong bonds. 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic was founded in 1840 and is one the world’s oldest concert societies. Its mission is “to promote the love of music and music-making” at the centre of which is the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its associated ensembles and concert series;  Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, one of the UK’s premier arts and entertainment venues; the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir; Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Choir, Training Choir and Melody Makers; and an extensive learning programme which is recognised as a national  leader in its field in its quality, reach and impact on communities. 
 
LJMU is Principal Partner of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, with a relationship which stretches back many years. As part of the partnership, all LJMU students are entitled to free and discounted tickets for concert by the  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, giving them the opportunity to experience live classical music performed by some of the world’s leading musicians. The Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Vasily Petrenko is an Honorary Fellow of LJMU.

Michael Eakin, Chief Executive of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, spoke of the creativity, imagination and sense of community and humanity that music and the arts brings and compared this to how LJMU adds to society through learning and knowledge, research and scholarship.  He talked of the relationship between the Philharmonic and the University, both being there for the city of Liverpool and taking its name around the world. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Weatherill said:  

"The Honorary Fellows and recipients of the Corporate Awards this year each represent a different profession and background and reflect the ethos of LJMU as a modern civic university; supporting people, communities and causes, while addressing the issues that matter most.  We are proud to welcome them into the University community."

To listen to the orations from today’s ceremonies, please click on the following links

Liverpool Philharmonic Corporate Award 

Cunard Line Corporate Award 

Image caption: LJMU Vice Chancellor Professor Nigel Weatherill, LJMU Honorary Fellow Commodore Rod Walker, Former Liverpool Echo journalist Cunard Line's Tony Storey, Liverpool Everyman's Executive Director and LJMU Honorary Fellow Deborah Aydon, Cunard Line's Public Relations Manager and Historian 
Michael Gallagher and LJMU Chancellor Rt Hon Sir Brian Leveson