Honorary graduates 2010-11

Sir Ian Botham (LLD)

Wednesday 14 July 2010, 9:00am

Sir Ian Botham was born in 1955 in the Wirral to parents who both played cricket. During his prolific career he broke a number of cricketing records. He was the first man to score a century and take 10 wickets in the same match and he reached a career double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in only his 21st Test, with the wickets achieved in a record two years and nine days. He was also the youngest cricketer to take 200 Test wickets and the first player ever to reach 5,000 runs and 300 wickets.

Sir Ian has been a tireless fundraiser for leukaemia since a visit to a Taunton hospital during which he visited the children’s ward. Since 1985 he has raised over £10 million, with Leukaemia Research amongst the charities that have benefited.

Since his retirement from the game in 1992 he has been commentating for Sky Sports and he also writes a column for the Daily Mirror.

He was awarded the OBE in 1992 and a knighthood in 2007.