Jings, crivvens and help ma boab! Oor Wullie has won a top prize for his English language studies at Glasgow University.
Derek Henderson, 23, from Dundee, was the first actor to ever voice Oor Wullie when he presented a documentary on the iconic character in 2002 at the age of eight.
The New Year’s Day programme featured a host of famous Scots, including Ewan McGregor, Lorraine Kelly and former Scotland boss Craig Brown, sharing their memories of the dungaree-clad mischief-maker.
Now Derek has been recognised as the top arts graduate at Glasgow University this year, after receiving a first-class honours in English language and Spanish last month.
The former St John’s High School pupil has been presented with The Harold Collier Bursary Award, which is awarded annually to the best male graduate of the year in the College of Arts with the Degree of MA Honours of the Degree of B.Mus. Honours.
Derek also won a prize for his dissertation this year and has landed a job in the English language department at the university.
He is researching sociolingusitics – how language is affected by factors such as local dialect, age and gender.
Derek said: “I didn’t even the bursary existed which made it even more or a surprise when they emailed to say I had won.”
Despite his successful studies, Derek had not planned to study English language at university.
“I went to uni thinking I was just going to do Spanish but then I discovered English Language,” he said.
“I joined the class about six weeks late and absolutely loved everything about it.
“I won the prize for English language in second year and thought it was great fun.
“Sociolinguistics is how people use language depending on where they are from, what age they are, their gender and so on.”
Although he was the first person to ever provide a voice for Auchenshoogle’s most famous resident, Derek has not had a chance to visit the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail in his hometown.
He said: “I’ve seen them, but I keep being pestered by all of my friends saying I should go and get my photo taken with some of them.”
