A retired engineer has been given a doctorate after writing a book about a politically supressed form of music he helped to save.
Dr Alan Wenham-Prosser, from Collingwood Road, Sutton, was given the academic award from Middlesex University for his contribution to writings on Ottoman art music.
The music almost died out in Turkey because of its links to the Ottoman Empire, but Dr Wenham Prosser was one of a group of people to help fight for it to be preserved.
With his family he started a registered charity for the teaching and preservation of the music subject in the UK.
After more than 42 visits to Istanbul over 35 years, the 67-year-old wrote a book the Music of Rumi.
On July 21 he received his doctorate in the Philosophy of Music for the work. He hopes to publsih the book next year.
He said: "I have dedicated a lot of my life to the subject, and it is wonderful to be recognised for my contribution."
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