Honorary graduates

2017

Richard Williams - British sports and music journalist

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his significant contribution to British music and sports journalism

Richard WilliamsRichard Williams studied at Nottingham High School from 1958 until 1964, before beginning his journalism career with the Nottingham Evening Post in 1965 as a reporter.

Richard’s journalistic experience includes jobs at a range of high profile newspapers, including Assistant Editor at The Times, Chief Sports Writer and film Critic for The Guardian, and Chief Sports Writer for The Independent.  

As a writer, then Deputy Editor of the weekly music newspaper Melody Maker, Richard was an influential commentator on the new forms of rock music at the end of the 1960s.  Richard was also the first presenter of the television music show The Old Grey Whistle Test between 1971 and 1972, which aired on BBC2.

His career in journalism saw Richard win Sports Feature Writer of the Year in 1994 and Sports Writer of the Year in 1995, both at the British Press Awards, as well as producing a range of publications in both music and sport.