A former Dean at Worcester Cathedral has been awarded a fellowship by the city's university.

Worcester's Dean Emeritus the Very Reverend Peter Atkinson received an Honorary University Fellowship during the University of Worcester's graduation ceremony at the cathedral.

Reverend Atkinson, who was Dean of Worcester from 2007 until he retired in August 2023, said: "This was an unexpected honour and I am delighted to be given the opportunity to continue my involvement with the university of Worcester, with which I had many happy associations during my time as Dean.

"It is wonderful to be back in the cathedral today to receive this honour. The cathedral obviously holds a very special place in my heart."

The honour means Reverend Atkinson joins the university's College of Fellows which offers opportunities for fellows to support the university using their areas of expertise.

The College of Fellows was established when the University of Worcester received university status in 2005.

Honorary University Fellowships are offered to people of distinction or those that have given significant service to the university or the wider community.

Reverend Peter Atkinson with his wife, Lynne Atkinson. (Image: Worcester Cathedral)

President of the College of Fellows, Professor Judith Elkin, said: "Peter Atkinson has been a friend and supporter of the university throughout his tenure as Dean, and has helped in many ways to develop the close working partnership between the university and the cathedral that we see today.

"The University Awards committee was unanimous in agreeing that Peter was fully deserving of a fellowship for his work over the years and would remain a friend and supporter in the future."

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Born in Kent, Reverend Atkinson studied theology in Oxford, Cambridge and Rome and was ordained by the Church of England in 1979.

Before becoming Dean of Worcester in 2007, he served parishes in London, Surrey, Bath and Sussex and took on a position as Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral from 1997.

Reverend Atkinson was given an honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Worcester in 2014, and to mark his retirement last year, a collection of sermons named A Way Of Putting It was published by independent publisher Sacristy Press in Durham.