Professor Paul Muldoon’s acceptance speech

“ I’ve kept my expectations very low mindful of the words of W H Auden who said if you recall: “Let us praise if we can vertical man, though we honour none but the horizontal one.

I’m delighted that this celebration coincides with my birthday and while I still feel demi -semi vertical I have to say that it’s a delight to be honoured in this way and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to come back and help you all here – all of us now associated with this extraordinary university – to celebrate your own 600 years of extraordinary teaching and learning. Thank you very much indeed.”