Bob the Builder's HIT man from Swindon gains honorary doctrate

Swindon company man Peter Orton, the Chairman of Hit Entertainment plc, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Art degree at the de Montfort Hall, Leicester from de Montfort University's Faculty of Art for his contribution to Children's TV and support for higher education and encouragement of young people in the industry on 18 July.

Peter, 59, has spent the last 27 years working in children's television ­ as a leading international sales executive, as a founder of arguably the most successful UK children's production and rights owning company and as a supporter and encourager of young people entering the industry.

A highly respected figure in the international television industry he has worked with many of the most prestigious programme makers in his career. His background includes 12 years with the public service Children's Television Workshop (CTW) where as President of International Sales in New York he was responsible for making the award-winning educational series Sesame Street into an international hit. In 1981 he established Henson International Television working alongside Jim Henson helping to build The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and Muppet babies into the world-wide successes they became.

In 1989 with a personal investment of £300,000 Peter established HIT Entertainment with the vision of creating a UK leader in the field of quality animation. His vision was based on the fact that Britain has consistently provided some of the finest and most internationally popular illustrated children's books (e.g. Winnie the Pooh, Beatrix Potter, Thomas the Tank Engine).

Over the succeeding years that goal has been achieved. HIT, under Peter's Chairmanship and guidance, has become one of the major creators of pre-school programming serving broadcasters in over 120 territories with studios in the UK and US. The key to HIT's success has been the creative talent the company has developed. These teams have been responsible for bringing to the screen such memorable animated characters as Kipper, Percy the Park Keeper and Bob the Builder. In 1999 the company opened its own model animation facility, HOT Animation, in Manchester. This has become a centre of excellence for model animation with a heavy emphasis on training new talent. HIT has always placed an emphasis on nurturing new talent be it through the work placement schemes the company operates or the more formalised training schemes. Over the years HIT has also provided work for hundreds of animators. In 2001 the company acquired Lyrick Studios, the US company behind the US children's icon character Barney the Dinosaur. Also in 2001 the company acquired Pingu, the popular children's penguin character. By early 2002 the company was the third largest distributor of children's videos in the US, behind Disney and Warners.

In addition to his activities in the British children's programming industry, Peter, through HIT, has been an active supporter of industry organisations such as BAFTA, The Edinburgh Television Festival as a sponsor and Wildscreen (the natural history film and television festival) and other institutions. On the educational front in addition to staff training and encouragement of young people wishing to enter the industry HIT has supported Leicester and Luton art faculties. In a personal capacity Peter is currently exploring, with several other figures in the animation world, the possibility of establishing a new UK animation college.

Outside of the television world Peter is actively involved in sport: through his financial assistance to the Wooten Bassett Rugby Club (where he is President), through his breeding of steeplechasers and following of National Hunt racing. Peter is also a keen golfer.

Peter is a substantial contributor to the Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust and took over as President this New Year.

Peter lives in Wooton Bassett, Wiltshire and is married to Sue with one son, Jamie aged 21.