National Park leader and renowned family lawyer honoured by University

13th January 2016

The leader of England's largest National Park, a lawyer who revolutionised family and child law, and one of the UK's most distinguished architects, are some of the outstanding individuals to be honoured by the University of Sheffield this week.

Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, is being awarded an honorary degree by the University in recognition of his exceptional leadership, which has seen him balance the interests of the Park's 41,000 residents with 16 million annual visitors within a landscape of immense national and international significance. Mary Hayes, Emeritus Professor and leading family lawyer, is being honoured for her high academic standing and contribution to family law. Mary authored the standard text on family and child law covering some of the most profound and difficult issues facing the legal profession. Also being awarded an honorary degree is Bob Adams, a distinguished architect planner and senior partner of the UK's longest-established architectural practice, Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson. He also undertook major roles in architectural and planning education in the UK and was instrumental in the establishment of the University's Faculty of Architectural Studies which is now the Faculty of Social Sciences - and in particular the setting up of its Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Richard, Mary and Bob are among six esteemed recipients to be awarded honorary degrees this week. They will be honoured alongside thousands of students who will be celebrating their graduation and joining a community of University of Sheffield alumni which reaches more than 180 countries across the world. The University is also awarding honorary degrees to the following recipients: Aileen Adams Tilli Tansey Chas Sims