Honorary degrees were conferred on Dr Catherine Hamlin, Mrs Sybill Storz and Mr Andrew F. Thomson.

Dr Hamlin began training midwives in 1958 in Ethiopa, where childbirth was marred in the aftermath of obstructed labour.

She helped develop a delicate surgical treatment and subsequently built the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, since when more than 24,000 women have been treated and cured.

The hospital now trains doctors from other developing countries and Dr Hamlin was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mrs Sybill Storz is chairman of Karl Storz GmbH & Co, and has been a keen supporter of training and education in endoscopic surgery, especially to Dundee University.

Her company has grown to be a market leader with large factories in Germany and the USA, with a research and development facility in the grounds of the university.

Mr Andrew F. Thomson was born in Dundee and educated at Churchill College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in modern languages.

He became chairman of D C Thomson last year, only the fourth of the company in its 101 year history.

He joined the family firm in 1964 and has been a director since 1974.

He has been closely involved in the day to day running of the firm throughout that time.

— Mrs Ann Markham, OBE, Chair of NHS Education for Scotland, is to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, during their graduation ceremonies on Friday.

Born and educated in Dundee, Mrs Markham is receiving the honorary Doctor of Education in recognition of her services to education in the UK.

— There were more than a few double takes when identical twins Emily and Laura Paterson collected their medical degrees at the University of Dundee ceremony.

The 23-year-old sisters from Giffnock in Glasgow have supported each other through their tough five year course and are now looking forward to a double celebration to toast their success.

Emily said, “University has been brilliant. We both chose to come to Dundee because we wanted to go away for university life and Dundee had a good reputation for studying medicine.”

The two sisters will be taking up their training posts in different hospitals albeit both in Glasgow.

Laura added, “We’re both looking forward to starting work, if a little apprehensive, but we both feel Dundee Medical School has prepared us well for the challenge ahead.”

There was also a strong international flavour at the graduation, with more than 40 students from a variety of countries from the USA and Canada to Africa having studied at Dundee. A number of those accepting degrees completed some of the programmes offered by the university’s distance learning centre.