Novelist and playwright Alan Bissett is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Stirling on Friday.
Bissett, who graduated from Stirling with a first-class honours in English, will receive the degree during the winter graduation ceremony.
He will receive the award of Doctor of the University, recognising his contributions to Scottish literary culture.
Bissett will join 730 graduates, and primatologist Emeritus Professor Andrew Whiten, at the ceremony – chaired by BBC broadcaster James Naughtie – at two ceremonies held in Gannochy Sports Centre.
Writing his first novel, Boyracers, while he was still a student at Stirling, Bissett has go on to have success as both a novelist and a playwright.
Speaking about receiving the honour, Bissett told Brig: “I feel immensely proud to receive this Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling, a place where I spent many happy years as both an undergraduate and a postgraduate.
“Not only was my mind opened to numerous new ways of thinking but my first novel was published when I was still a student at Stirling.
“It’s always a nostalgic pleasure for me to come back to the campus for any reason, but to receive this accolade, and have the chance to address the graduates on their own special day, will make this a particularly humbling trip.”
Professor John Gardner, Senior Deputy Principal, said: “Already part of the Stirling family, Alan Bissett is renowned for his use of Scottish vernacular language and representations of working-class communities in his literary works.”
“It’s a pleasure to have him back on campus to be honoured for his numerous successes since leaving University.”
