NOVEMBER 11, 2009 – David Gilmour received an honorary doctorate from the Anglia Ruskin University, England. Gilmour had attended Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, now part of Anglia Ruskin University, which has campuses in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire and Chelmsford, Essex. It was where Gilmour and his childhood friend Roger “Syd” Barrett laid the foundations of Pink Floyd and British Psychedelia. The award recognises his “outstanding contribution to music as a writer, performer and innovator”.
John Gordon, who formed the band Jokers Wild with Gilmour and the late Syd Barrett, said: “I am delighted to hear of my old mate David’s recognition by my old college. I grew up with Syd Barrett, learned guitar and progressed our artistic leanings together and we gained entry to the art school. It was while there we met David Gilmour and had many jam sessions at the college in general and within the college of art. I’ve kept in occasional contact with David over the years and followed his progress as one of the world’s finest exponents of the guitar.”
The ceremony was held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, a venue that Syd Barrett performed most of his solo concerts. Gilmour still has close ties with the University, and had recently supported the Syd Barrett tribute project The City Wakes from the Cambridge School of Art. While he will always be best known as guitarist, vocalist and writer with Pink Floyd, Gilmour is also renowned for his solo work and collaborations with other artists including Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, and Pete Townshend.
