Honorary
Doctorates |
Clinton Cameron MBE is awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education.
Clinton Cameron, the former Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of Leeds Met, was born in Jamaica in 1939, he came to Leeds in 1960.
Over the last forty years he has been a key participant in community activities in Chapeltown and Harehills. He was a founder member of the Chapeltown/Harehills Law Centre and served as Chair of the Law Centre Federation until the early 1980s.
In 1980 he co-founded Harambee, a housing organisation which opened one of the first hostels for homeless and unemployed young people in Leeds. As a direct result of setting up Harambee, he became involved in the voluntary housing movement and remained active in it locally and nationally until May 2003. He played an active role on the national executive of the National Housing Federation for an extended period, including as Deputy Chair, until his retirement in September 2003.
In the early 1980s Clinton worked as Principal Equal Opportunities
Officer for Leeds City Council, moving on within the authority
to become, in 1990, Tertiary Education Officer
In 1994 Clinton joined the governing body of Leeds Met, which
he served for a decade, including in the capacity of deputy chair.
He made a major contribution to the work of the University’s
Board in a period of enormous change within higher education.
He retired from the governing body in September 2003.
Upon receiving his Honorary Doctorate Clinton said: “When I received the letter informing me of this honorary award I was shocked, surprised but, above all, delighted.
“I believe education is the single most important thing in the transformation of people’s lives. I look forward to observing the continued progress of Leeds Met.”
During his speech Clinton thanked the University for awarding him an Honorary Doctorate of Education and added: “I feel privileged to join other honorary awardees. This is something I will look back on with pride and great affection and will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
Clinton is currently chairing REEMAP, a charity whose aim is to raise educational aspirations and improve achievement amongst young people. His other current activities include service on the North-East Leeds Primary Care Trust, the Leeds Initiative and the West Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership.
Clinton Cameron’s lifetime commitment to local and national voluntary work in housing and education has been driven by an unshakeable belief in the potential for ordinary people to transform their lives through co-operation and organisation. His dedication to making a difference to people’s lives in the community was recognised in 1990 when he was awarded an MBE for his services to housing.
