A TOP writer and a millionaire tycoon were honoured in Huddersfield.
David Peace and Lawrence Tomlinson were both presented with honorary degrees yesterday by the University of Huddersfield.
Each became an Honorary Doctor of the university (Hon DUniv).
They were joined by hundreds of students who were being congratulated this week on their degrees.
Peace, who was brought up in Ossett, is best known for his book The Damned United, an expose about Leeds United which became a hit film starring Martin Sheen as Brian Clough.
He was born in Dewsbury and attended Batley Grammar School, Wakefield District College and Manchester Polytechnic.
For many years he was an English teacher overseas and lived in Tokyo until 2009. He became a critically-acclaimed and best-selling author and is famed for his Red Riding Quartet, powerful novels of crime and police corruption.
It later spawned an acclaimed Channel 4 drama series.
Businessman Lawrence Tomlinson is the man behind the Ginetta racing team.
The philanthropic entrepreneur, who grew up in Batley, has wealth estimated at £500m.
He attended the local grammar school before going on to study engineering.
He took an engineering degree and worked in the industry but a new career direction came when Lawrence set up a company which purchased a care home from his parents.
He later went on to own a chain of homes, and established LNT Construction which built new ones.
Tomlinson has a passion for car design and motor racing and in 2005 he acquired the British car maker Ginetta. Now the 52-year-old marque employs over 60 people from its state-of-the-art factory in Leeds and exports GT winning racing cars all over the world.
Both received their awards from University Vice Chancellor Prof Bob Cryan.
Mr Tomlinson, 47, said: “My businesses have made a number of mutually beneficial links with the University and I have been hugely impressed by the creativity and calibre of the students here. It has been an honour to be recognised in this way”.
