Pompey star humbled as he's set to receive an honorary degree

AS THOUSANDS of students pick up their degrees, people who have dedicated years of work to the city will also be recognised by the university.
Linvoy Primus received an honorary degreeLinvoy Primus received an honorary degree
Linvoy Primus received an honorary degree

Among them is former Pompey player Linvoy Primus who is set to be awarded a Doctor of the University on Friday.

It comes just a year after the Faith and Football founder was made an MBE.

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Speaking to The News, the 42-year-old ex-defender said: ‘It’s quite amazing really. I recognise how hard the students work to receive degrees and PhDs. I definitely don’t take this lightly.

‘I’m honoured to receive the degree and I think receiving the MBE last year and now this, it’s a special moment not just for me but my family and friends as well.

‘I watched my son receive his degree last year. For me to receive one will be amazing – he did say I didn’t work as hard as him.’

Linvoy will be watched by parents Newton and Pauline and son Nathan, 22, during the University of Portsmouth ceremony at Guildhall.

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He has worked with Christians In Sport and co-founded Faith and Football which aims to release the potential in young people.

Linvoy is also on the board of trustees for SCUK, among other charity commitments.

Also set to be handed an honourary degree is Alex Hildred.

Alex is head of research and curator of ordnance and human remains at the Mary Rose Museum Trust.

She is one of three curators responsible for the 2013 Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where she joined the project in 1979 as a graduate archaeologist.

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She has researched and published the weapons of the ship, producing one of the five volumes comprising the archaeology of the Mary Rose, and has worked with the Royal Armouries, manufacturing and firing full-scale copies of recovered guns.

She will receive a Doctor of Science on Friday.

Ashok Soni OBE, who studied pharmacy at Portsmouth School of Pharmacy and graduated in 1983, will be handed a Doctor of Science on Monday.

He was appointed a member of the National Association of Primary Care Council in October 2013.

In 2014, Ash was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list and elected President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in July of that year.

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Anne Stevens, a global executive and a thought leader on gender balance and inclusion, will be given a Doctor of the University on Tuesday, July 19.

And Tracey Curtis-Taylor, an aviator, adventurer and speaker, has spent 30 years of flying classic planes. She will receive a Doctor of the University on July 20.