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A Very Proud Moment!



Thirty-four years after an extremely homesick Tom dropped out of his studies at the University of Swansea (those were the days of snail-mail, public phone boxes and student digs in the middle of nowhere) this is the moment when he was finally awarded his degree by the Vice-Chancellor of the Open University.
Tom’s battled not only with the usual trials and tribulations of life, but has also overcome cancer and serious illness to reach this point – we couldn’t be more proud of him.

Comments

her at home said…
well done that man! My mothers university education was interrrupted by a world war and she took her degree in her 60's with thge OU so I know how hard it is so a big well doen indeed from me!!
Flowerpot said…
That is brilliant news, Chris. YOu must be bursting with pride and I hope he is too. You are both going great guns this year arent you?! Brilliant news xx
mountainear said…
Well done Tom - it's never easy returning to learn. Justifiable pride all round I think.
That's so impressive. Many congratulations to Tom.
Jane Lovering said…
How wonderful! I bet you are all very proud, it is a fantastic achievement to graduate (whatever age you are when you do so!)
Maggie Christie said…
Many congratulations to Tom. What a fantastic achievement.
Fantastic, and all the sweeter for the wait perhaps than it might have been all that time ago? congratulations to Tom, great achievement. I think OU degree is much harder than the conventional type because the motivation has to be all internal!
Well done and congratulations to Tom - what a fantastic year you are both having!

Jeanne
x
Fran Hill said…
What a great moment. Be proud.
Frances said…
Bravo, Tom! Please do take a bow, oh... take another bow.

I know that some wonderful celebrations must be underway round your place.

xo
Pondside said…
Take a bow, Tom!!! What an example to the younger members of the family!
Jude said…
Congratulations and well done Tom.....what an achievement!
Fennie said…
Congratulations, Tom! Fabulous! Persistence and determination.
bradan said…
Well done Tom! How I wish I hadn't dropped out of going to uni, but Tom is certainly an inspiration for me to have a go at the OU.
Well done Tom, many, many congratulations - that's quite an achievement and one that rightly deserves to be celebrated.
Chris Stovell said…
Thanks very much, everyone, for taking the time to comment. I can certainly recommend the OU as a way to study although I think I've worked harder towards my Diploma in Lit and Creative Writing (fingers crossed) than I ever did during my first degree! Mind you, the difference is I'm really enjoying the subject this time.

I found the degree ceremony especially moving as I couldn't help but wonder about the different stories behind the individual achievements. There was one especially poignant moment when a son collected the award on behalf of his deceased father.
Calico Kate said…
Oooh that gave me goose bumps. So a very very well done Tom. This is obviously YOUR year. Love it.
CKx
Nishant said…
it's never easy returning to learn. Justifiable pride all round I think.
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