Sir David and curry king collect honorary degrees

A LORD and a "king" were awarded honorary degrees from universities in Glasgow yesterday for their contributions to Scottish society.

But while Lord (Sir David) Steel of Aikwood, the Scottish Parliament’s first presiding officer, is a lord by Royal hand, the king in question, Charan Gill, earned his honour by owning and operating the UK’s biggest Indian restaurant chain.

Sir David was awarded an honorary degree by Glasgow Caledonian University while the Scots multi-millionaire curry king Gill was awarded an honorary degree by Paisley University, despite leaving school with no qualifications.

Sir David used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to the university’s "expertise" in social inclusion and community regeneration. "The fact that academics here are prepared to get their jackets off and help us to the analysis and solution of such intractable problems is something greatly appreciated," he said.

Mr Gill MBE could barely speak English when he arrived from the Punjab aged nine, but in a true "rags to riches" tale, he has amassed a 15 million fortune.

He said: "I am absolutely thrilled. I started school when I was nine and left at 15. I didn’t expect this but it is always nice to know that someone is watching and saying ‘well done’."