AUTHOR Bill Bryson was on official duty yesterday in the building that captured his imagination on first sight.

The American travel writer, who was appointed Chancellor of Durham University after the death of Sir Peter Ustinov last year, sang the praises of the city in Notes from a Small Island, his account of a tour of Britain.

He spoke of the awe he felt on emerging from a train at Durham station and looking across to the cathedral and castle on the skyline.

Yesterday, he was at the cathedral to award degrees at the first of 14 graduation ceremonies this week. He offered the new graduates advice as they set off on their professional lives, telling them to seek to fulfil their dreams rather than to do what was expected of them.

"If your father tells you to go into accountancy rather than play for Newcastle United, play for Newcastle United and tell him to try accountancy."

After the ceremony he said: "The first one is always going to be the hardest, but now I have a sense of what happens.

"I certainly feel a sense of wonder being out on that stage with all those people out there, in Durham Cathedral.

"There's no greater privilege. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be asked to dress like this and perform these duties.

"I'm completely and genuinely thrilled in every possible respect. It's such a wonderful institution and such terrific people."