A UNIVERSITY secretary who became a “college mum” to thousands of students has been awarded an honorary degree.

Carol Carr, 62, retired from Durham University in 2009, after more than 30 years’ service.

She began in Durham Business School in 1973, before students at Hild Bede College asked that she be given more pastoral responsibilities.

She was made college secretary, student support officer and finally senior tutor.

Students came to see Mrs Carr as the friendly face of the college and, in 1992, she was awarded honorary life membership of the college’s student representative council – a unique achievement for a college secretary.

Sunderland-born Mrs Carr, a married mother-of-two, was awarded her honorary degree from Durham University at Durham Cathedral yesterday.

Mrs Carr said: “I loved my work caring for students and seeing them start as freshers and develop into graduates.

“Getting this honorary degree is the icing on the cake for me, an award I’ll treasure.”

Professor Chris Hutchison, principal of Hild Bede College, said Mrs Carr had been the “college mum”, a much-loved staff member.

Sarah Unwin, Student Common Room president at Hild Bede, said: “Carol was like a second mum to everyone in college.”

Mrs Carr received her honorary degree in Durham Cathedral from best-selling author Bill Bryson, who performed his final graduation ceremony as Durham University chancellor, ahead of his departure later this year.

In receiving the award, she joins celebrities including England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, former triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

Also receiving honorary degrees this week were historian Professor Keith Wrightson, Navy controller Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain, architect Donald Liao and theologian Nicholas Lash.