Medals of Honour for Clare Bottle, Aneez Esmail and Russell Meehan
19 May 2023
Chair of the Board of Governors, Philippa Hird, presided over a Medal of Honour presentation and dinner which took place on Wednesday, 17 May at Christie's
Clare Bottle was recognised for her commitment to the cause of equality for women; Professor Aneez Esmail for his contributions to public health, his challenges to racism in the medical profession and his significant contributions to the senior leadership of our University; and Russell Meehan for his sustained contribution to the cultural life of the city of Manchester, and also the Northwest region.
Clare Bottle
Clare Bottle is CEO of the UK Warehousing Association, a trade body with 1,000 member companies. Having studied History of Art at Manchester 1990-1993, she began her career in logistics nearby at Trafford Park. In 2008 she obtained an MSc in Logistics from Aston University, subsequently becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. She champions equality for women and girls through her voluntary roles as Vice-Chair of Women in Logistics UK and Chair of Governors at Northampton School for Girls.
- Read the citation for Clare’s presentation
Aneez Esmail
Professor Aneez Esmail was a Professor of General Practice at our University from 2005-2022 and was Associate Vice-President (AVP) for Social Responsibility during that time. In 2014, Aneez was commended by the Health Service Journal as one of the top 100 clinical leaders in the NHS in recognition of his work in relation to tackling discrimination in the NHS. He was awarded both a Silver and Gold merit award from the NHS for his contribution to clinical excellence, teaching and research. In November 2017 Aneez was given a life time achievement award by the publishers of Pulse Magazine for his contribution to General Practice.
- Read the citation for Aneez’s presentation
Russell Meehan
Russell Meehan is a Manchester-based graffiti and muralist artist, owner of Mural life MCR and the face behind the well-known pseudonym Qubek. After studying advanced Fine Art and Design at Stockport College in 1996/7, he started using spray paint as a medium, spending many years honing his self-taught skills. From 2006, working as a community-based arts youth worker, he inspired, built confidence and encouraged knowledge and creativity through murals. With an increase in private commissions he went freelance in 2012, favouring Manchester and the rich social and political history as inspiration, spreading the achievements of the city and its community far and wide. He is most renowned for the 22 bees painted in memory of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. This was the catalyst that inspired Russ to make a change in his community and use his art to raise money and awareness, which to date stands at over £250k for Manchester-based charities.
- Read the citation for Russell’s presentation
Image from left to right: Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, Russell Meehan, Medal of Honour recipient, Professor John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry, English and American Studies, Clare Bottle, Medal of Honour recipient, Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research, Aneez Esmail, Medal of Honour recipient, Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, Philippa Hird, Chair of the Board of Governors