COMIC Jo Brand and Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose are among a group of celebrities and business people to be honoured with degrees next week.

Simon Tomlinson

COMIC Jo Brand and Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose are among a group of celebrities and business people to be honoured with degrees next week.

Six honorary accolades will be given during University Campus Suffolk's second-ever set of graduation ceremonies at the Corn Exchange on Wednesday and Thursday.

Those being recognised for their careers include Rosie Varley, the chairman of the General Social Care Council Public Guardian Board and Skills for Health Eastern Region, who will be attending a ceremony at 11am on Wednesday.

Ms Brand, who started her career as a psychiatric nurse before becoming a popular comedian, appearing on television shows such as Have I Got News For You and QI, will be feature at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Sir Stuart, who has a home in Suffolk and was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility, will be awarded at 6pm the same day.

Canon Peter Mortimer, the former assistant chief probation officer for Suffolk, a Territorial Army colonel and a priest, will be honoured on Thursday, along with Professor David Hall, an entrepreneurial and business development expert who has written three books and helped set up television shows.

Professor Chris Green, who formed Trianon Music Group in 1959 was awarded the OBE in 1995 for services to communities in East Anglia and is currently chairman of Ipswich Arts Association, will also receive an honorary degree on Thursday.