Pianist Jools Holland was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Kent for his learning and service to music.

He was apparently declared "a Doctor of Boogie-Woogie" by the University.

I always remember Friday nights on channel 4 with editions of The Tube, presented by Jools Holland and Paula Yates. Loved the bands. Loved the vibe.

I'll always remember Little Richard saying something along the lines of Jools being one of the best pianists he'd ever heard. The usually geezer-cool Jools blushed at this compliment from his hero.

I also noted they were charging well over £1000 for a private, candle-lit Valentines Dinner soiree with Jools playing the tunes at some upscale, Canary-Wharf eatery last February.

Of course, this isn't quite the same as receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, but it's quite special and an indication that doctorates don't need to be conventionally "earned" to be indicative of much application, learning and innovation. They also present a sponsorship/publicity opportunity for the university concerned.

Of course, unscrupulous entrepreneurs have sometimes also effectively "bought" them as they've been awarded in return for donations and other contributions, not always obvious to onlookers.

One "owner" of a college I knew of proudly mentioned his doctorate at any possible opportunity he could. It was as if the Lord Himself had come to wash his sins away.

Well done to Dr Jools.