THE ‘YORKSHIRE Rows’ rowers are to be honoured by a York university, alongside a First World War Victoria Cross hero, a Downton Abbey actor, and a children’s TV star.

The four Yorkshire women who rowed 3000 nautical miles across the Atlantic are to be made honorary Doctors of Health Sciences by York St John University.

At the same time, Dame Penelope Wilton - Downtown Abbey actor and patron of York charity Kyra Women’s Project - will be made an honorary Doctor of Letters.

A posthumous honorary fellowship will be given to John “Jack” Harrison - a Hull-born First World War hero who won both the Military Cross and the Victoria Cross, and was killed in 1917, and who had studied at York St John’s predecessor St John’s College.

York St John have announced their honorary doctorates ahead of the graduation ceremonies on November 14, 15 and 16.

A spokesman said they would honour inspirational figures for their “outstanding achievements”.

“These honorary awards recognise enduring and successful careers and contributions to the wider community and we look forward to celebrating their success alongside the 2,000 students graduating in the beautiful setting of York Minster in November 2017,” they added.

Honorary doctorates are being given to Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE - the 1970s children’s TV star who is now a Lib Dem peer and education campaigner.

The chief executive of York-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Campbell Robb, formerly the head of housing charity Shelter, is to be made an honorary Doctor of Laws.

Another York figure - Phillip Thake - will be given an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration. Mr Thake is chief executive of York Conservation Trust - the organisation that owns and cares for 91 historic buildings across the city.

The former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones KBE - now an assistant bishop in the diocese of York - is to be given an honorary doctorate of theology.

The university is also giving honorary doctorates to deaf scholar and activist Dr Paddy Ladd, composer Errollyn Wallen, and mental health researcher and academic Professor Dame Til Wykes.