| Today, once again a free man, he was back at Dundee University, where he studied English and politics in the 1980s, to receive a honorary degree.
Alan spent three years reporting from Gaza and was coming to the end of his stay when was captured by radicals who held him for four months.
Fortunately, after a high-profile campaign to secure his release, he was freed in July 2007.
Speaking at City Chambers before today’s Dundee University graduation ceremony in Caird Hall, Alan said, “I stayed here for four years. This was my home. I lived a couple of streets away from here, so it’s great to come back under these circumstances.
“It’s like coming back home and it’s very kind of the university to honour me in this way.”
More than 4000 students from 80 countries are receiving degrees and diplomas at the university’s series of graduation ceremonies.
Today’s graduands were called up on stage one at a time to be dubbed with the traditional blue bonnet by university chancellor Lord Patel. |
