THREE local people awarded honorary degrees joined thousands of University of Herts graduates who were celebrating their success at ceremonies in St Albans last week.

Sixteen people were awarded honorary degrees and fellowships for their outstanding contribution to acaemic disciplines, charity, professions or public service.

Among them was Holocaust survivor Kitty Hart-Moxon who lives in Harpenden and has dedicated her life to educating people about the Holocaust. She and her mother spent 20 months as prisoners in Auschwitz more than 60 years ago.

Mrs Hart-Moxon, who is now in her eighties, has worked with the Holocaust Education Trust to give presentations to students the world over and has been awarded an OBE.

Receiving her honorary degree in St Albans Abbey on Friday for her commitment to education through the Holocaust Education Trust, she said: “I am absolutely delighted and I hope that all the graduates have much success in the future.”

Also receiving honorary degrees were LibDem peer Lord Tom McNally, who has lived in St Albans for nearly 20 years. It was awarded in recognition of his outstanding contribution to political life in the UK and to the local community.

He said at the ceremony: “It is a great honour to accept this from the hands of the vice-chancellor as Hertfordshire is a university to be reckoned with in terms of status and achievements.”

Transport campaigner Stephen Joseph, who also lives in St Albans, received an honorary doctorate of science during the week.

Executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, his expertise is held in wide regard and he is often called upon to serve as a government advisor.

He was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to transport and the environment and in 2008 he received a PTRC lifetime achievement award for furthering the role of transport planning in society.

More than 4,300 graduates received their degrees during ceremonies at St Albans Abbey during the week.