Dundee University's secretary, Bob Seaton - who has served under five principals and six chairmen of court since his appointment in 1973 - was praised and called "the supreme example of the best type of university registrar" at his recent retirement dinner.
Among those paying tribute to Mr Seaton was former principal Ian Graham-Bryce, who said: "One of the first things I learned was to listen very carefully to what Bob had to say.
"The only piece of useless advice he ever gave me was at a time I was complaining about signing a vast pile of graduation certificates.
"His suggestion? Get a shorter name."