Charle Haylock has spoken of being honoured, humble, privileged and proud after receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Suffolk today.

Famed for his in-depth knowledge of the Suffolk dialect, best selling books on the subject and teaching Ralph Fiennes among others in getting the words and accent just right, Charlie is a regular in the Shotley Rose, with his partner Ruth who lives on the peninsula.

Charlie getting ready (Picture: University of Suffolk/Gregg Brown)

Charlie, who celebrates his 77th birthday on Saturday, entertained fellow graduates, civic dignitaries and professors, with his acceptance speech, described by one observer as: "Typical Charlie-fashion, all about the many uses of the word 'up', very funny and very wry."

Away from the auditorium, Charlie spoke of his pride at picking up the award in his home county, and following the footsteps of the likes of Ed Sheeran, Jo Brand, Nik Kershaw and Mark Murphy MBE. 

"I'm very honoured, overwhelmed, privileged, and have a feeling of both humble and very proud.," said Charlie. "Lots of famous people have had this award, and because lots of famous people have had this award I feel very humble that my name is now amongst them. It's lovely to know that what I have done has been recognised."

He gave nod to fellow recipients, who earned theirs by graduating as English students.

Charlie said: "Indeed. In all my talks and all my books I have tried to demonstrate the richness of the Suffolk dialect and the richness of the English language, and I demonstrated that in my acceptance speech.

"I would just like to say, thank yer koindly t'getha."

Charlie leading the procession (Picture: University of Suffolk/Gregg Brown)

Charlie was one of five honorary doctorates presented with their awards this year, with Rural Coffee Caravan founder Ann Osborne, Cathy Ryan MBE, who was honoured alongside nursing students for her work in the health sector, TV and radio presenter and author Zeb Soanes, along with former Ipswich mayor and Ipswich Caribbean Association founding member Hamil Clarke MBE.

After accepting his award Charlie revealed he is stepping back form public speaking and writing books.

"I'm gradually retiring," he said. "I think today really, it is nice to be recognised for what I did, and I know my books have been bestsellers.

"I was on a certain level – BBC Radio Suffolk, regular articles in the East Anglian Daily Times, cartoons in the East Anglian Daily Times.

"Then Ralph Fiennes asked me to be his Suffolk dialect coach on the Netflix film The Dig, and that has taken off.

Ralph Fiennes - the Dig (Picture: Netflix)

"I have taken over 170 bookings to talk about The Dig and how for the first time ever we have had a Suffolk accent on the big screen – it's never been done before. I think that was the catalyst which is why I am sitting here today. Apart from today, Ralph Fiennes asking me to do that was the cherry on the icing on the cake. I think because there was so much publicity about that, I think it was a catalyst for today.

"Today is very, very special."

In 2019 he became Suffolk dialect coach for Ralph Fiennes in the film, "The Dig", about landowner Mrs Pretty, archaeologist Basil Brown and the Sutton Hoo burial ship. Ralph Fiennes received many Suffolk accolades for mastering the Suffolk dialect in the film; as did Charlie for teaching him.

Although actually Essex born, after being brought up in Edwardstone, and with generations of Suffolk relatives, including grandfather Bill, Charlie admits getting the county accent accurately on the big screen, without it falling into the traditional West Country accent, the thing he is proudest of.

Charlie said: "The first time I met Ralph Fiennes I told him that we were going to struggle to do a Suffolk accent, and he was surprised. I said, all you actors whether it be the big screen, television or radio, if you try and do a Suffolk accent you end up west of Swindon with a touch of Long John Silver and I gave him some examples.

"I am very proud of what I achieved with The Dig, and so are Suffolk people, because otherwise I wouldn't have had 170-odd talks.

" Wherever I have gone with that talk it's been a sell out. I'm very proud of what I have done there."

Charlie carried on this grandfather Bill's tradition in folk sessions in the 1980s and 90s and produced two CDs.

Talks about Suffolk gathered pace; Shotley Vineyard, Suffolk theatres, U3As, W.I.s, schools, local history groups, and many other organisations. Charlie's bookings were sometimes two years in advance; his talks were that popular; and still are.

Charlie at Shotley Vineyard (Picture: Nub News)

In the 90s Charlie wrote a feature entitled "Larn Yerself Suffolk" for the EADT monthly magazine, which led to Charlie being asked to write a Suffolk dialect book. "Sloightly on th' Huh" was published in 2004 and became the best selling book in Suffolk that year. More best selling books followed, plus a CD for "Suffolk Voices" and he was instrumental in organising the Suffolk section of the BBC's project on English dialects.

Charlie's Suffolk dialect coaching has included Eastern Angles, Sir John Mills Theatre, and the Quay Theatre. Regular interviews on BBC Radio Suffolk led to a ten year weekly appearance entitled, "Haylock's Half Hour". So popular, it became "Haylock's Half Hour for Forty Minutes", covering Suffolk surnames, dialect words and phrases, place-names, Suffolk history and all things Suffolk.  

His 2017 book, "In a Manner of Speaking," is a history of spoken English, from its early beginnings to the present day, and explains why we have so many dialects.

Charlie recently appeared on BBC Countryfile explaining the importance of the Suffolk dialect. 

His current schedule includes bookings as far ahead as 2025.