Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham was bowled over after being awarded an honorary university degree.
Sir Ian – nicknamed Beefy – was given the doctor of laws alongside 3,000 students at Exeter University in Devon.
He was given the award by Exeter because of his links to the Westcountry and the university’s strong cricket credentials.
Sir Ian Botham, 54, was given the honour in recognition for his sporting achievements as well as his charity work.
During the ceremony he congratulated the fellow students and urged people to support his leukaemia charity.
The University of Exeter’s Chancellor, Floella Benjamin OBE, said: ”This is a time for celebration for our students.
”Our honorary graduands are leaders in their fields and we very much look forward to welcoming them here.
”They are people the University is extremely proud to be associated with.”
Sir Ian was awarded an LLD degree. LLD stands for Legum Doctor – the double ‘L’ is because plural abbreviations in Latin are formed by the double letters.
* Sir Ian, who grew up in Somerset and played much of his cricket for the county, is regarded as one of England?s greatest cricketers all-rounders.
His records include being the first man to score a century and take 10 wickets in the same match.
Sir Ian is also the youngest cricketer to take 200 Test wickets, and the first player to reach 5,000 Test runs and 300 wickets.
He is a tireless fundraiser and has raised £millions for numerous cancer charities including Leukaemia Research.
