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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!!
26 April 2010 at 08:59
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
26 April 2010 at 09:08
mountainear said…
Well done Tom - it's never easy returning to learn. Justifiable pride all round I think.
26 April 2010 at 09:58
Deborah Carr (Debs) said…
That's so impressive. Many congratulations to Tom.
26 April 2010 at 10:21
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!)
26 April 2010 at 11:33
Maggie Christie said…
Many congratulations to Tom. What a fantastic achievement.
26 April 2010 at 11:45
Elizabeth Musgrave said…
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!
26 April 2010 at 13:01
Reading Tea Leaves said…
Well done and congratulations to Tom - what a fantastic year you are both having!

Jeanne
x
26 April 2010 at 14:47
Fran Hill said…
What a great moment. Be proud.
26 April 2010 at 14:53
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
26 April 2010 at 16:50
Pondside said…
Take a bow, Tom!!! What an example to the younger members of the family!
26 April 2010 at 19:12
Jude said…
Congratulations and well done Tom.....what an achievement!
26 April 2010 at 23:09
Fennie said…
Congratulations, Tom! Fabulous! Persistence and determination.
27 April 2010 at 10:34
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.
27 April 2010 at 13:33
LITTLE BROWN DOG said…
Well done Tom, many, many congratulations - that's quite an achievement and one that rightly deserves to be celebrated.
27 April 2010 at 15:35
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.
28 April 2010 at 02:13
Calico Kate said…
Oooh that gave me goose bumps. So a very very well done Tom. This is obviously YOUR year. Love it.
CKx
19 May 2010 at 03:28
Nishant said…
it's never easy returning to learn. Justifiable pride all round I think.
PPC Advertising India
31 May 2010 at 10:18
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