A former regional daily feature writer and columnist is to receive an honorary degree for “services to journalism and literary production.”

Anton Rippon, pictured left, formerly of the Derby Telegraph, is to become an Honorary Master of the University of Derby.

Anton, editor of the 2016 Sports Journalists’ Association Yearbook, will receive the honour alongside Derby-born Hollywood actor Jack O’Connell and Derby County FC owner Mel Morris.

During his career, Anton also worked in the Nottingham Evening Post’s features department, covered football as a freelance for the Sunday Telegraph, and worked for BBC Radio Derby before founding Breedon Books, which he built into one of Britain’s most well-known sports publishers.

The author of 30 books, mostly on sport, he still writes two weekly columns in the Derby Telegraph as well as working for Derby County’s media department.

In December, Derby County Former Players’ Association named Anton the recipient of its annual merit award for services to the club.

Said Anton: “These things come as a bit of shock because I’ve never taken myself seriously – I’ve always found that ends in disappointment – and when I left grammar school in 1961 and asked the headmaster for a reference, the best he could come up with was that I had the ability to make people smile. I’ve been trying to do that ever since.”

Anton will receive his award at the ceremony at Derby Arena on 15 July.