BRITAIN’S most successful female rower - Katherine Grainger – has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Buckinghamshire New University.

The Marlow Rowing Club member and four-time Olympic medalist was honoured during the university’s graduation week.

The Maidenhead resident was awarded a MBE for services to sport in 2006 before she received a CBE after winning gold with Anna Watkins in the double sculls at Dorney Lake during the London 2012 Olympics.

Upon receiving the doctorate during a ceremony at the Wycombe Swan on Wednesday, she said: “I'm absolutely thrilled to accept an honorary degree from BNU.

“It was a wonderful surprise and huge honour when I received the letter and having such close ties to Wycombe makes it even more special.”

Katherine received her Batchelor of Law from Edinburgh University – where she picked up rowing in 1993 - and then went on to complete a Master’s in Medical Law and Medical Ethics in her hometown of Glasgow. In 2013 she finished a PhD in Criminal Law at King’s College, London.

Professor Ruth Farwell, Vice Chancellor of BNU, said: “We are delighted that Katherine accepted our invitation to be associated with us in this way.

“We choose our honorary awardees in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their particular fields, and I am sure that she will be an inspiration to the graduating students and to those that will come after them.”

The BBC’s director of music and High Wycombe resident Bob Shennan also received an honorary award, alongside Darren Henley, managing director of Classic FM.

Frances Alexander, chair of the Wycombe Environment Centre and a former Wycombe District Council Chairman, was also among the dignitaries honoured during this year’s ceremonies.