July | 2024 | aberdeen registers

On Thursday 27 June Mr Phil Astley received the Honorary Degree of Master of the University.

Professor Jackson Armstrong gave the laureation address at the evening degree ceremony. He highlighted Phil Astley’s career-long dedication to archives and records management, and noted in particular his leadership in securing UNESCO UK Memory of the World recognition for the earliest council registers, and his instrumental efforts in establishing and fulfilling the thriving collaboration between City & University in the Aberdeen Burgh Records Project.

Jackson Armstrong also noted that Phil’s leadership of the City & Shire Archives has substantially contributed to Aberdeen’s civic cultural offering, including by example lunchtime talks at the Maritime Museum and Cowdray Hall, annual festivals such as Granite Noir, and numerous exhibitions at the Aberdeen Art Gallery and other venues.

To mark the occasion with a gift for Phil, Jackson commissioned artist Stephanie Graham to make an enamel and silver lapel pin, using an image of the famous ‘fishman’ from the Aberdeen Council Registers. A beautiful result!