Walker trained as a mechanic before becoming a radio DJ

Honoured for services to broadcasting in a career spanning 40 years, the BBC Radio 2 DJ collected his MBE from Prince Charles.

"The Prince was asking me about the pirate radio ship Radio Caroline," the 60-year-old said.

"I was a bit naughty, I disobeyed the law," he added. "It would seem I've been forgiven."

Emergency operation

Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train as a mechanic. He later took a job as a car salesman.

In 1965, he quit his job to join pirate station Radio England and six months later joined the ship Caroline, continuing to broadcast in defiance of government legislation.

Walker began at the BBC on Radio 1 in 1969, moving to Radio 2 in 1998 where he now presents Drivetime.

In October 2003 he underwent chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, revealing his diagnosis on air.