SOUTHEND: Phill Jupitus to receive honorary degree

Leigh on Sea resident and Longpier feature writer Phill Jupitus will receive a honorary degree at the end of the summer.

The Never Mind the Buzzcocks star will take to the stage of the Cliffs Pavilion on Thursday 30th September to be awarded the title of ‘Honorary Graduate’ at the South Essex College Graduation Ceremony, for the outstanding service he has given to the Performing Arts.

The honour will be awarded by the University of Essex, who validate many of the Colleges higher education qualifications.

Phill has performed as lead singer with The Blockheads and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, as well as national tours with Madness, Paul Weller and Billy Bragg.

During our relaunch back in May, Phill became part of the Longpier family writing an introductory feature on Leigh – and he’s set to pen more for the site in the near future.

The college event marks the first graduation of the merged South Essex College of Further and Higher Education, and is set to see hundreds of graduating degree students from the College’s three campuses in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock.

Of the upcoming evening, Phill told longpier.com:

“I was really touched to be asked and it’s fantastic to be recognised by the County in this way with such a prestigious accolade. I have a strong affiliation with Essex and it’s a wonderful place to live and learn, so I’m really looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the College’s students.

In my tour of the College I could see that they had some impressive facilities and that hundreds of local people benefit every year, so to be playing such an active part of that celebration is going to be an amazing experience.”

He added: “The subject of honorary degrees came up when I was filming an episode of QI recently. As you might expect Stephen Fry was top with seven honorary degrees and Alan Davies had two, whilst I was proud to say that my big day was coming soon in Southend, which is the perfect way to celebrate over 25 years in showbusiness and made all the more special that I am being honoured in the town that I call my home.”