Jonathan Van-Tam receives honorary degree at graduation ceremony

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Jonathan Van-TamImage source, University of Nottingham
Image caption,

Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam was awarded the honorary degree during a graduation ceremony

England's former deputy chief medical officer has spoken of his pride after receiving an honorary degree from his university.

Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam became a household name during the pandemic for his delivery of Covid updates in frank and often light-hearted ways.

He had joined the government on secondment from the University of Nottingham in 2017.

The university gave him the accolade "in recognition of his achievements".

Media caption,

Pants, football, yoghurt: Watch Prof Jonathan Van-Tam's most memorable moments of pandemic advice

Prof Van-Tam, nicknamed JVT, returned to the university as pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of medicine and health sciences and was recently knighted for his public health work.

He was awarded the honorary degree during a graduation ceremony at the university on Saturday evening.

"Receiving an honorary degree is always a privilege, but to receive such an accolade from one's own university is particularly special," he said.

"I feel deeply honoured. Three generations of the Van-Tam family have passed through the university and so for me there is a very enduring bond that we have with this place."

Image source, University of Nottingham
Image caption,

The University of Nottingham gave him the accolade "in recognition of his achievements"

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