HISTORIAN and prolific writer Sir Roy Strong was due to receive an honorary masters degree from University College Worcester this afternoon.

The ceremony was due to start at 2.30pm at Worcester Cathedral, where hundreds of UCW students were also due to graduate.

Over the next three days, young men and women and dignitaries will progress through from the Guildhall, through the city centre to the Cathedral for the services.

The accolade marks 45 years of public service for Sir Roy, pictured, which includes time as director of the National Portrait Gallery and Victoria & Albert Museum, both in London, and latterly as a writer, broadcaster and consultant.

The award will also strengthen the St John's college's growing portfolio in the arts and endorse the Castle Street redevelopment, which includes overhauling listed buildings - an area of interest to Sir Roy.

Principal of UCW, Professor David Green said he was delighted to be awarding the honorary degree.

"Sir Roy has had a very distinguished career across a range of creative fields and has undoubtedly helped to raise the profile of the arts within this country and internationally," he said.

"UCW has a growing portfolio in art and design and creative digital arts, and his work will serve as an inspiration to all those embarking on our media and creative courses."

In 1980, Sir Roy, who lives in Herefordshire, was given the prestigious Shakespeare Prize by the FVS Foundation of Hamburg in recognition of his contribution to arts in the UK.

Throughout his career he has written dozens of highly acclaimed books - on the Tudors and Stuarts, British theatre, food and gardens - which have been translated into numerous languages.

His most recent publication is The Laskett, the story of the garden he built with his late wife, the film, television and theatre designer Dr Julia Trevelyan Oman.

n The names of every student due to graduate this week will be published in the Evening News today, tomorrow and on Friday, alongside pictures and stories of some of UCW students' finest achievements. Make sure you reserve your copy of the Evening News at your newsagent today.