LANCASTER man Professor Mike Abramson received the perfect birthday present but he couldn't tell anyone about it until New Year's Eve.
Prof Abramson, 58, of Belle View Terrace, was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to higher education.
He told the Citizen: "I received the letter on my birthday on November 12 but I had to keep quiet about it.
"The letter came from Downing Street and said that the Prime Minister was minded to put my name forward to the Queen. It was a little bit vague but it was a wonderful surprise birthday present and the MBE was confirmed on New Year's Eve."
Prof Abramson was honoured for his work at the University of Central Lancashire, where he is the co-ordinator of the BA/BSc combined and joint honours programme.
He is also the author of several reports on the Flying Start project, which aims to help new students manage the transition into higher education.
He is married to Teresa, the academic registrar at St Martin's College, and has daughters Catherine and Margret.
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