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Yesterday, he was awarded the university’s Alumnus Award 2015 for his major contribution to the music industry and his ongoing support for the university.

Sam Davies, the university’s Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, told the audience: “Norman always knew that music was his goal, but his parents made it clear they wanted him to have a fall-back position if the music career didn’t work. So before he could run away to join the ‘circus’ – as he describes it – of the music industry, he threw himself into his studies and says his degree is the thing he worked hardest for in his life. He also says it taught him the importance of sticking with something and remains very proud of his 2.1”.

A student at what was then Brighton Polytechnic, Norman achieved a BA in British Studies before setting out on his music career and ultimately becoming one of the world’s best known DJs.

He said his degree gave him the confidence to pursue his dream “with wild abandon because I figured if it did go tits up I could fall back on my degree later in life and get a proper job”.

He went on: “For those of you graduating this is the day that you stop following orders from others and embark on your own dreams.”

Norman Cook in 1985

Zoe Ball and Norman Cook

After failing two out of three of his A levels Norman’s parents said they would support him all the time he was in full-time education “or I could leave home and get a job there and then. This was kinda the incentive I needed to re-take my A levels and apply for a degree course at Brighton university.



“I have always had the utmost love and respect for my mum and dad for leaning on me because some very good things happened as a result: I ended up living in Brighton, a city which I very quickly grew to love and which has been my home in the 33 years since and I managed to pass my degree.

“So what is the point in me telling you all this, you ask? Well I guess what I am trying to say is once you've done the hard work and have those important letters after your name the pressure is off now to a certain extent. Those letters will be after your name for the rest of your life if you need them to impress people but your dreams have been sitting around for a long time now waiting for you to fight your way through puberty, parental influence and higher education.

“Maybe as you celebrate your freedom you can just see if there are any other dreams lying around in your head that you may want to have a crack at? Maybe something that has been lurking there for years whilst you've been knee-deep in dissertations.”

Norman said he was proud of his degree: "Most of all I am proud of you, the graduates, because today is all about you. Congratulations. May your lives flourish and prosper and remember; if you do have any nagging dreams, you have now earned the right to perhaps indulge them."