Northwood man Thomas Angear given degree from Nottingham University

Mr Angear said: "I am very flattered and feel more than a little humble. The ceremony was a very formal occasion but, in addressing the audience, it gave me the opportunity to pass on some career advice to the new graduates and suggest ways of maintaining contact with their alma mater in the years to come."

Prior to studying industrial economics at the university, Mr Angear spent two years serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Malaya (now Malaysia) and Hong Kong, with the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles (now known as the Royal Gurkha Rifles) - the same unit where actress Joanna Lumley's father was a major.

After graduating in 1961, he later became a marketing manager for Lever Brothers, launching household fabric softener brand, Comfort, before running his own international mergers and acquisitions company.

Since selling the business in 2000, he has become an active member of his former university, chairing the golden jubilee campaign which raised £35m for a new campus, buildings and professors.

His hard work has also been repaid with a life-long legacy in the shape of The Angear Visitor Centre, within the university's Lakeside Arts Complex, which is named after him and his wife, Patricia.

The couple, who have two children and two grand-children, are due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in August next year.

Mr Angear added: "I enjoyed revisiting my former university and it was a real honour to receive the award, the highest that a university can make.

"I am proud to have achieved many things in my life - when I sold my firm it comprised more than 30 partner offices in 16 countries, and I have a wonderful family - and the honorary degree is definitely one of the highlights."