The University of Winchester officially welcomed Alan Titchmarsh MBE as the institution’s new Chancellor during a formal installation ceremony yesterday.

“We are honoured and delighted to welcome Alan as our new Chancellor,” said Professor Joy Carter, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Winchester.

“Alan is joining us at an exciting time of growth and change; we have a huge amount to be proud of and a firm foundation from which to build the future. His values and beliefs are closely aligned to those of the University – intellectual freedom, social justice, diversity, spirituality, individuals matter and creativity. I look forward to working with him in the coming years.”

Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH DL began his gardening career as an apprentice at the age of 15 before moving into print and broadcast journalism.

He is a much-loved television presenter and writer, regularly contributing to newspapers and magazines, and has written nine novels, three volumes of autobiography and more than 50 gardening books.

Alan was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to horticulture and broadcasting in 2000, and four years later was awarded the RHS’s highest accolade, the Victoria Medal of Honour. In 2009, he was made a Vice President of the RHS and in 2013 became the society’s first Ambassador. He is patron or president of over 50 charities and organisations, and is an Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and Prince’s Countryside Fund.