BEST-SELLING children's author Terry Deary took centre stage at his home city theatre for the first time in almost 50 years as he received an accolade yesterday.
The man behind the popular Horrible Histories books returned to Sunderland University to receive an honorary degree.
The university vice-chancellor, Peter Fidler, presented his doctorate of education in an end of term graduation ceremony at the Sunderland Empire Theatre.
It brought back happy memories for the former actor, dramatist and teacher, who first took to the Empire stage as a six-year-old in an early 1950s Christmas show.
He said: "I made my debut on the same stage as a kid, singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in a Christmas variety show starring the Smith Brothers, a Geordie performing duo who for some reason wore kilts.
"I think that's what gave me the idea that people are there to be entertained."
Fifty-four-year-old Mr Deary, the son of a butcher, was born in Hendon, Sunderland, and qualified as a teacher at the city's College of Education, now part of the university.
Now living in Burnhope, County Durham, he divides his time between writing fiction for teenagers, true mystery stories, and his Horrible Histories series, while producing his novels for television broadcast.
He was thrilled to receive the award, in front of an audience including wife Jenny, 86-year-old mother Freda and his 20-year-old student daughter, Sara.
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