Sir Bob Murray 'has enough honorary degrees now'

A former football club head who recently received his fourth honorary degree has said he has enough now.

Former Sunderland chairman Sir Bob Murray CBE received the award from Durham University on Friday.

It follows Sir Bob receiving an honorary degree from Northumbria University in December, having held awards from Leeds Beckett and Sunderland universities since 2008 and 1997 respectively.

Speaking after his receiving his latest degree, Sir Bob, who is originally from Consett in County Durham, said: "There's nothing quite like being recognised by your own."

Nevertheless Sir Bob said he was not seeking honorary degrees from the only two universities in north-east England he was yet to receive one from: Newcastle and Teesside.

"I'm sure that's the end of it now," he said. "I'll settle for what I've got."

He said it was "quite moving" for a "lad from Consett" who had sometimes struggled with education to receive the prize at Durham Cathedral on Friday.

During his speech, he said: "When I studied, I was very determined and had a lot to learn - and education transformed my life.

"Education is the greatest asset we have...I am living proof of that."

He also said that while he had been a Sunderland supporter all his life, his pride had "always extended to the whole of the North East".

"We have something here that is truly unique," he said.

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