They are among twelve recipients who will receive the accolade for their excellent contribution to their chosen fields and, or, significant personal achievements.

Reverend Alker has been vicar of St Mark's Church in Broomhill for twenty years, during which time he has built strong and enduring relationships between the church and the community. He has also addressed issues in contemporary Christianity through the work of St Mark's Centre for Radical Christianity.

Mr Scarborough, who took up painting after working as a coalminer, has created a wealth of everyday images of the life and people of Yorkshire and beyond, including an image for the University's Centenary.

This year's degree ceremonies will also see Angela Knowles, the inspiration behind the movie Calendar Girls, awarded a Doctor of Letters. Mrs Knowles, a former employee of the University of Sheffield's Union of Students, was the driving force behind the Rylstone and District Women's Institute charity calendar, following her husband's death from leukaemia. Since that time her and her friends have raised over one million pounds for Leukaemia research. Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and former Kind Edward VII pupil, Paul Collier, will also receive a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his work on global poverty.

Top names in science and medicine will also be honoured. Professor Sir David King, the Government's former Chief Scientific Adviser, who gained widespread recognition for his handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis, will receive a Doctor of Science. He will be joined by Professor Jim Feast, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a graduate of the University who has an international reputation for his work on polymers. Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart, who is Board of Trustees Professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, will also receive a Doctor of Science for his pioneering research in chemistry and molecular nanoscience.

Professor Sally Davies, who is Director General of Research and Development in the Department of Heath and a world authority of the clinical care of patients with sickle cell disease, will also receive a Doctor of Science.

Former Sheffield graduates will also be returning to the city for their awards. Dr Maureen McTeer, a distinguished lawyer, author and speaker, who is a highly regarded advocate for the legal and health rights of women and children will receive a Doctor of Laws. John Allan, chairman and director of Avanti Architects since 1983 and one of the country's most respected architects, will receive a Doctor of Letters.

The University of Sheffield will also present honorary degrees to Dr Tridibesh Mukherjee and Dr Lakshminarayana Subramaniam. Dr Mukherjee, who has played a major role in developing the Tata Steel group in India into one of the leading steel producers in the world, will receive a Doctor of Metallurgy and Dr Subramaniam will receive a Doctor of Music in recognition of his achievements as a violinist and composer.