Guardian journalist and author receives University honour

Martin, who is the northern editor of the Guardian and grew up in Leeds, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts on Friday 27 July.

The graduation ceremonies are taking place at Leeds Met's Headingley Campus from Monday23 to Friday 27 July, with over 5,000 students graduating over five days, alongside ten honorary degree recipients.

Martin performed the official opening of the University's Broadcasting Place building in 2009 and has undertaken guest lectures at Leeds Metropolitan. Speaking at his graduation he said he was honoured to receive the recognition for his contribution to the arts.

He told School of Accounting and Finance and Leeds Law School graduates: "You and your colleagues have brought so much life to Leeds. I'm very proud to have this award, but duly modest in that you have worked so hard to get it and I have piggy-backed on other work that I have done.

"I have grown up with your university - this marvellous institution has grown from the original colleges to the polytechnic to the university it is today."

Others receiving honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan include Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway and Olympic Torch designer Edward Barber.

Born in Tinshill, later moving to Adel to live with his granddad and attend primary school in Headingley, Martin's family has a long history with the city of Leeds. He developed a love of writing from an early age and his first taste of journalism came as he and his siblings produced a family newspaper which they pinned to the kitchen wall.

Martin went on to study at Shrewsbury School before reading Modern History at Oxford University. Whilst at University he was involved with several student newspapers and helped to set up the Scorpia newspaper, helped by a donation from Richard Burton.

Upon graduation, Martin took on a traineeship with Westminster Press and spent time at the Bath Chronicle and the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. He then worked as a features writer for the London Evening Standard before moving to the Guardian in 1976, where he has remained. During his time with the newspaper he has undertaken several roles but was made the Northern Editor in 1995.

Martin's love of writing has extended to the publication of several books, including a biography of British fellwalker, Alfred Wainwright MBE (unrelated), a guide to the Coast to Coast walk and biographies of the Morris Minor and Mini cars. His book 'True North' seeks to dispel many commonly held myths about Northerners and praises 'England's better half'.

His much-loved and widely-read blog about moths, entitled Martin's Moths, sees him report on the moths that he catches and later releases with a light trap in his garden in Rawdon.

Martin was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to the National Lottery Charities Board in Yorkshire and Humberside. He is chair of the trustees of the Scurrah Wainwright Charity and a trustee of the Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust.