Star trekking!

LEADING the way . . . Professor Brian Cox regales Sir Patrick Stewart as they lead the procession through Oldham town centre

SCIENCE fiction met science fact when starmen Patrick Stewart and Brian Cox led University Campus Oldham’s (UCO) graduation procession.

More than 220 students took part in yesterday’s colourful parade before science pin-up Professor Cox received an honorary degree from his home town — on the stage where he once played a pop gig.

The degree was presented to the “Stargazing Live” TV star by UCO Chancellor Sir Patrick — famed for his stage, movie roles and TV roles and as the star of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the “X-Men” moves.

Professor Cox revealed that it was the first honorary doctorate he had accepted.

“It’s because it’s in Oldham” said the former Hulme Grammar School pupil — who admitted he was a huge “Star Trek” fan.

“It’s a great honour. The exciting thing about it is that there is such a thing as UCO now.

“I am proud of my home town. It is a wonderful place to come from. It served me well because I got my foundation at school here and then at Manchester University down the road.”

The 44-year-old, who lives in Saddleworth, first shot to fame as the keyboards player in the band D:Ream.

He is now a professor of particle physics and Manchester University and works at the large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva.

One of Britain’s best-known scientists, the Oldham Athletic fan has presented BBC TV shows including “Wonders of the Universe” and “Wonders of the Solar system”

He has just finished filming “Wonders of Life”, which will be shown in October, and received his doctorate during the graduation ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

“The last time I was here I was playing with a band called Dare on stage in 1989,” he said.

“I couldn’t ever imagine my comeback on the stage would be to get an honorary doctorate.”


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