Bill Bryson become Honorary Fellow

Writer tells graduates 'be happy'

Bill Bryson (pictured opposite) received an Honorary Fellowship from LJMU on Thursday 21 July 2005 in recognition of his services to cultural studies and imaginative writing.

Bill Bryson is one of the world's most respected travel writers. His enthusiasm and commitment to exploring has inspired thousands to follow in his footsteps. In his highly acclaimed book, Notes from a Small Island, he wrote of Liverpool: 'I am exceedingly fond of Liverpool. It is probably my favourite English city''

Surprisingly, he admitted that despite walking round the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral many times, he had never been inside before; but he could think of no finer setting for such a "proud day" for both himself and the hundreds of students taking part in the graduation ceremony.

During his warmly received acceptance speech, Bill offered the graduates four bits of advice. First, he said "be glad that you are alive" and second, "be happy, really happy". Then, perhaps in reference to his now infamous comments about Liverpool's 'festival of litter', his third piece of advice was that "if you see anyone drop litter, kill them" before concluding with an encouragement to everyone to buy his books in hardback as soon as they were published.