Two long-serving regional daily editors are to be awarded honorary fellowships by University Campus Suffolk later this year.

Terry Hunt and Nigel Pickover took over as editors of the East Anglian Daily Times and Evening Star respectively on the same day back in 1996.

They are to receive the honour alongside Suffolk-born EastEnders actress June Brown – Dot Brannan (Cotton) to her fans – and Ipswich Town chief executive Simon Clegg.

They will receieve the honorary doctorates at graduation ceremonies to be held later this year.

Said Terry: “The opening of a university in my home county of Suffolk was the realisation of an ambition for me, so to be honoured by that self-same university in this way is a tremendous honour.”

By contrast Nigel is a Johnny-come-lately to Suffolk, but says that after nearly 18 years in his adopted county he’s on his way to being accepted as “local.”

He said:  “I might not have lost the northern twang to my voice, but I feel as if Suffolk is really home now and this honour from the fantastic new university in my adopted county is wonderful recognition for what we have achieved at the Star over the last 15 years.”