Honorary Degree For Writer Doyle

Authors Roddy Doyle and Dr Jung Chang and Gregory's Girl director Bill Forsyth will be among those awarded honorary degrees by a university next month.

Crime writer Stuart MacBride and Justin Fletcher, the children's TV presenter who plays Mr Tumble, are among ten leading figures from the worlds of literature, cinema, science and the media who will be honoured by the University of Dundee next month.

They will be presented with the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the summer graduations.

Others to be honoured include BBC political editor Brian Taylor, graphic novelist and Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons and molecular biologist Professor Frank Grosveld.

Professor Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: "This university's core mission is to transform lives through the creation and sharing of knowledge, and in our honorary graduates we recognise individuals who have done that in their own lives and can stand as the best possible role models for our students and staff.

"Each of the people we will award an honorary degree to this summer fits that description.

"They have achieved great things in fields that are directly relevant to our own students here at Dundee, from Justin Fletcher's fantastic work with young children to Professor Frank Grosveld's groundbreaking work in molecular biology, and from Dave Gibbons' standing as one of the world's most-read graphic novelists to Bill Forsyth's status as Scotland's greatest filmmaker.

"I look forward to welcoming all of them to Dundee this summer.''

Professor Neil Buist, an internationally recognised expert in child health, and Seamus McGarvey, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer whose work includes Atonement and Anna Karenina will also be honoured.

The graduation ceremonies will take place between Wednesday June 24 and Friday June 26 at the Caird Hall in Dundee.

About 3,500 students will receive their degrees and diplomas over the course of the week.