Obituary: Phyllida Stewart-Roberts (1933-2016)
Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, one of the first distinguished individuals to receive an honorary degree from Sanjeev Bhaskar, died suddenly on 12 August.
Phyllida Stewart-Roberts CVO OBE, one of the first distinguished individuals to receive an honorary degree in 2009 from University of Sussex Chancellor Sanjeev Bhaskar, died suddenly on Friday (12 August) - just a week before her 83rd birthday.
Making his graduation debut that summer as the University’s Chancellor, the writer and performer conferred on Phyllida an honorary Doctor of the University degree at a ceremony in the Brighton Dome.
In the same week, others receiving honorary degrees included Sussex alumnus Festus Mogae, the former President of Botswana; Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland; and author Sir Michael Holroyd.
Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, who lived near Lewes, had a long and distinguished career spent almost entirely in the voluntary sector.
Having been a member of St John Ambulance in Sussex since 1962, she was appointed national Superintendent-in-Chief, and from 1991-2001 chaired the Joint Committee of St John and the British Red Cross, a body established after World War I to provide relief to wounded servicemen.
In 1991, Phyllida was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, and in 1996 as Vice-Lord Lieutenant. From 2000-08 she served as Lord Lieutenant of the County of Sussex, which includes the City of Brighton & Hove.
She was also a member of the governing Council at the University of Sussex from 1995-2001.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said: “Phyllida was a major figure around Sussex and dearly loved.”