That the Parliament expresses its delight that the Deacon Blue drummer and celebrated broadcaster, Dougie Vipond, is to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling on 22 March 2024; understands that Dougie will receive the award at Stirling’s spring graduation ceremony and is being recognised for his outstanding contribution to music, broadcasting and community; acknowledges that, as one of the founders of the internationally successful Scottish pop rock band, Deacon Blue, he was a student of the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and that Dougie was playing drums with the band while studying classical music at the centre of excellence for the performing arts; notes that his love of sport is reflected in the roles that he took on for the BBC, as an anchor for Reporting Scotland and for BBC Scotland’s flagship football programme, Sportscene, as well as presenting a myriad of other sports, including rugby, curling and athletics; further notes that he was also the first Scottish presenter of rugby for Premier Sports and Viaplay, even enjoying a short run as co-host of ITV’s This Morning, and is currently the presenter of the long-running farming and countryside programme, Landward; understands that, in 2022, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society presented Dougie with an honorary fellowship in recognition of his television presenting work; commends Dougie for his integral involvement in fundraising for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, participating in a cycle from Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff during 2022; notes that, originally from Renfrewshire, Dougie now lives in Bridge of Allan in the Mid Scotland and Fife region, and is a strong advocate for the University of Stirling and its elite athletes, and sends its heartfelt congratulations for this worthy accolade.