SEVERAL Keighley people have been honoured by a college.

They were among a cohort of figures to receive honorary fellowships from Bradford College.

The line-up includes Simon Atkin, the Keighley-born former chief superintendent of West Yorkshire Police and college alumnus.

Also recognised is Ruth Caswell, an award-winning costumier and fashion designer from Keighley.

She taught costume and textiles on degree programmes within the School of Art and Design at Bradford College from 1986 until 1997 and has worked on Oscar-winning films including Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love.

And also honoured is Emily Cummins, an inventor and entrepreneur.

The former pupil of South Craven School at Cross Hills invented the ‘sustainable’ fridge – which is used across much of southern Africa – and she was the youngest person ever to win a Sustainable Design Award.

Still only 29, she is also involved in a business that has become the biggest provider of diabetes prevention services in the UK.

The graduation ceremonies took place over two days at the Life Centre, in Bradford.

Of the 1,100 graduating students, 546 picked up Bachelor awards, of which 18 per cent are firsts.

The college was also giving 211 postgraduate awards – Masters, PGCE and PGDip.

An honorary fellowship is the highest accolade that can be given to recognise a person's service or support to the college, city or district of Bradford.

Other recipients were Ikram Butt – the first British Asian Muslim to represent England at either code of rugby – and Saima Hussain, the first Muslim woman to play rugby league for Yorkshire and England.

Ikram has played rugby league for Leeds, Featherstone, Huddersfield, and London Broncos and was capped for England.

He is the chief executive officer for the British Asian Rugby Association, which aims to provide positive role models, break down cultural and religious barriers and promote community cohesion.

Saima has helped smash preconceptions about race and gender in sport and now works a sports development officer in Bradford.

Bradford College group chief executive officer, Andy Welsh, said: "We were delighted to confer honorary fellowships on such a distinguished group of people.

"They have all excelled in their own field and are excellent role models for our students and we look forward to the contribution they will make to the college."