Mr. Churchill And Others Receive Honorary Degrees - Mr.Churchill speaking after the ceremony. In the background L to R, are: Sir. Alexander Fleming, Mr. Walter do la Mare and Sir William Beveridge. Honorary degrees of London University were conferred on Mr. Churchill, Mr. Walter do 1a Mare, the post Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin, Dr. Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Marshall. United States Secretary of State (who was absent from the ceremony) , and Sir Ernest Pooley, chairman of the Arts Council, at the 112th celebration of Foundation day at the University, last night (Thursday). November 19, 1948.