2009
Peter Porter - distinguished poet, author and journalist (deceased)
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British poetry, and to the teaching and appreciation of English literature.
Peter Porter began writing for a living as a journalist in his native Australia, but from 1951 he became established in Britain, where his career embraced poetry, criticism, scores and libretti, teaching and lecturing.
He had been a Visiting Professor in the former English and Media Studies Department at NTU and maintained connections with Nottingham and the School of Humanities. By publishing his own work in anthologies alongside other poets working at this University, he brought their work to wider attention.
He is held in high regard as one of the most influential post-war poets in the English language, without whose work no anthology is complete. His standing is reflected in a succession of honours, prizes and medals from the literary world. In 2007 he was made a Royal Society of Literature Companion of Literature, an honour bestowed on a maximum of ten living writers.