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Donald MacDonald, recently retired as public relations officer of Heriot-Watt University, was last Saturday awarded an honorary degree.

Pauline Weetman, dean of economic and social studies, revealed in her laureation address that Mr MacDonald, president and subsequently general secretary of the Scottish Union of Students, played a key part in achieving a single student grant-paying body for the whole of Scotland.

"In negotiating that change of funding," she said, "Donald had to travel from Aberdeen to Edinburgh for meetings at the Scottish Office.

It is reported that on emerging from the Secretary of State's office, he would turn in the direction of Drummond Street and the pawnbroker's shop, where his watch was exchanged for the return fare to Aberdeen."