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from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Wednesday, July 9

He is said to be the greatest driver never to win the World Championship. Now, motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss is set to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of Hull.

Arguably the greatest all-round racing driver of all time, he has gone on to be one of the sport’s most loved characters.

He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990 to mark his achievements.

Sir Stirling, 77, is being honoured by the university next week for his significant contribution to a number of fields, including his charity work.

One of those is a cause close to the hearts of East Yorkshire people – he is a patron of the Daisy Appeal.

The charity has raised more than £6m for its new cancer research centre, which will open later this month at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

Sir Stirling helped raise money for the appeal by signing 250 limited edition prints by East Yorkshire artist Tom Harland of him in an Elva 1963 MK7 sports car.

Emma Ideson, Daisy Appeal spokeswoman, said: “Sir Stirling Moss is one of the Daisy Appeal’s patrons and we have been grateful for his support over the past few years.

“We congratulate him on getting this honorary degree.”

Other distinguished people receiving honorary degrees include Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Sir Ben is best known for his portrayal of Mohandas Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film Gandhi, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe for New Star Of The Year.

Internationally-recognised choral composer Dr John Rutter, President of the International Court of Justice Dame Rosalyn Higgins, renowned paleobiologist Professor Simon Conway-Morris and political theorist and University of Hull Emeritus Professor Lord Bhikhu Parekh will also be honoured.

Professor David Drewry, vice-chancellor at the university, said: “We are proud to count such notable figures among our honorary graduates.

“The award of an honorary degree recognises their significant contributions to a broad range of fields.

“The graduation ceremonies give our students the chance to receive their degree alongside eminent figures, demonstrating our commitment to offering a high quality learning experience and inspiring them to further their own achievements.”

The week of ceremonies will also include the graduation of the first cohort of students from the Hull York Medical School (HYMS).

HYMS, which welcomed its first intake of students in 2003, is a partnership between the universities of Hull and York, and the NHS.

The HYMS graduation ceremony will see Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, awarded an honorary degree.

University of Hull www.hull.ac.uk

Daisy Appeal www.daisyappeal.org