CAPS will be flying today as graduation ceremonies begin for former students at the University of Southampton.

Some 5,000 students will attend the ceremonies which take place every day until July 24 in the Turner Sims hall and Nuffield Theatre at the university’s Highfield Road campus.

This year’s graduates will receive their scrolls alongside five leading figures from the fields of chemistry, engineering, mapping, medicine and the military who will receive honorary degrees.

First Sea Lord and University of Southampton graduate, Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC will receive his accolade to add to the honours degree he achieved in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Southampton in 1980.

Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, Secretary General of Ordnance Survey International, will be given an honorary degree which recognises her achievements as longest-serving director general since 1875 and the first woman to hold the post.

Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman, President of the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur will also be honoured for his services to health care in Malaysia.

Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Crossrail and Southampton graduate, alongside President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Southampton graduate and Professor Dominic Tildesley will also receive honorary degrees.

The university will be awarding fellowships to leading barrister, Mr Naveen Agnihotri; Willem Toet, Head of Aerodynamics at Sauber F1 team; and Malcolm Isaac MBE, a successful local businessman and a leading philanthropist.