Jackie Stewart gets honorary degree in city

Published on Thursday 13 July 2006 12:29

FORMER world champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart was to receive an honorary degree from Edinburgh University today.

Sir Jackie, who was Formula One world champion in 1969, 1971 and 1973, was in pole position for the doctor honoris causa at a graduation ceremony to be held this afternoon.

Nicknamed the Flying Scot, Sir Jackie was born in Dunbartonshire in 1939.

He started his working life as an apprentice mechanic at his family's garage business before entering the world of Grand Prix races behind his older brother Jimmy.

The three-times world champion, who suffers from dyslexia, is now a well-known racing commentator around the globe and once owned a racing team.

He was diagnosed with skin cancer and underwent surgery in 2002 in the US. His wife Helen has also battled breast cancer and his son Paul was treated for cancer of the colon.

Mountaineer and author Joe Simpson, whose book, Touching The Void, inspired the film of the same name, was also set to receive the degree of doctor honoris causa at the ceremony.