Julain Treuherz has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool. It was in recognition of his work at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery, of which he was head for 18 years.

His ambitious renovation of the gallery, in addition to several major exhibitions he put on in 2008, helped Liverpool win the Capital of Culture title that year.

Mr Treuherz, 62, tells People: “It was a very happy feeling to receive the degree but the day was really about all the students getting their degrees which they had worked so hard for. In my speech I didn’t want to preach to them about what to do with their lives.”

He says: “I’m just pleased to see hundreds of people going to the gallery and to be able to communicate the art world to them.” His exhibitions include Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Art in the Age of Steam.