Campaigner honoured by university

Motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Gordon Aikman has been honoured by his former university one year after his death.

The University of Edinburgh’s George Square Lecture Theatre is to be renamed in memory of the business school graduate who raised more than £500,000 for research funding.

Mr Aikman, who successfully lobbied the First Minister to publicly fund and double the number of specialist MND nurses across Scotland, died from the debilitating disease in February 2017.

In 2015, the former student received an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Both accolades recognised his work to raise awareness of MND and achieve better care and treatment for those diagnosed.

The move to honour the inspiring campaigner was proposed by the University of Edinburgh’s Student Union.

A formal naming ceremony and plaque unveiling with Mr Aikman’s family and friends will take place later this year.