8 February 2007

Shirley Robertson sends message for ‘A Dundee Celebration’

The University of Dundee’s ‘A Dundee Celebration’ will include a filmed message from who Shirley Robertson, who had been due to attend but is instead in training for the 2008 Olympics.

Shirley, who will now receive an honorary degree in the summer, sent her film to be screened at the ceremony in the Caird Hall. It shows Shirley saying, "Hello, I’m sorry I can’t be with you, but I’m training in Palma for qualification for the Olympics 2008."

"It is a tremendous honour to receive this honorary degree from the University of Dundee and I hope to visit Dundee in the near future to receive it in person."

"Congratulations to Sir Alan Langlands and the University on its 40th Anniversary and to Sir Craig Reedie."

"He has presented me with both my gold medals and is my lucky charm as well as being a huge influence on the winning bid for the 2012 Olympics."

"Have a lovely day everybody and thank you."

Shirley Robertson, 37 was born in Dundee and started sailing on the Tay. She is the only British female athlete to have won gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games and is considered the greatest female Olympic sailor in history.

After a 4th place in the Atlanta Olympics (1996), she won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics (2000) for Europe class dingy sailing, the first Scottish woman to win an Olympic gold since 1912 and Britain's first female Olympic sailing medallist. Robertson reinforced this victory by taking a further Olympic gold in the Yngling class in Athens (2004).

Among her many honours, she became the International Sailing Federation's World Sailor of the Year in 2000, was awarded an MBE (2001) and an OBE (2005). The accolade 'Top Scot' was bestowed on her at the 2004 Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards and she became Glasgow Council Sportsperson of the Year in the same year.

The event in the Caird Hall tomorrow marks four decades of partnership between the city and the University. It will see degrees bestowed upon some of the people who have shown Dundee at its best in sport, academia, science, civic duty and the arts.

Those receiving honorary degrees are Liz McColgan, Lord Provost John Letford, Michael Marra, Baroness Clark of Calton, Bishop Vincent Logan, Professor Sir Philip Cohen, Russell Reid and Norman Robertson.

"It is entirely appropriate that a year of celebrating the University’s 40th anniversary should begin with an event that highlights the close and growing relationship between the city and the University," said Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee.

"We enjoy an excellent relationship with the city and its people, and the 40th anniversary is a chance to celebrate that."

"I am delighted that we are also able to honour a group of people whose achievements have brought recognition to the city from all corners of the globe and who have all contributed greatly to the life of Dundee."

"I hope many of the people of Dundee will join us in celebration."

The event, which will feature a performance from the Dundee Rep Women's singing group "Loadsaweeminsingin", is open to the public.

For media enquiries contact:

Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk