Grandfather among gleeful UCS graduates

Tony Horrocks with his Grandaughter Alison as they graduated yesterday

IPSWICH: A grandfather and his granddaughter were among the hundreds of excited University Campus Suffolk (UCS) graduates.

Tony Horrocks and granddaughter Alison took to the stage to collect their degrees after helping each other through their studies.

Mr Horrocks, 75, who graduated with a BA in Individual Studies, was delighted to don his gown and mortar board with his family beside him - however it was his first time he has achieved the accolade.

The retired mature student graduated from his first degree in science from the University of London nearly 50 years ago.

He said: “It's great that we've been able to study together and we've definitely helped each other along the way.

“We only realised last year that we would be graduating in the same year but we had no idea that it would be on the same day or at the same time.”

Alison, 21, who studied for a BA in Business Management, said: “It was great because he helped with my dissertation because he has already done one.”

Mr Horrocks, of Felixstowe, now plans to take a gap year before returning to London to study for his MA.

He added: “I want to have finished my studies before I hit the 80 mark.”

In total, around 900 students graduated from UCS.

Honorary degrees were given to comedian Jo Brand and Marks and Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose.

Also honoured at the ceremonies was Canon Peter Mortimer, the former assistant chief probation officer for Suffolk, Professor David Hall, a business development expert and Professor Chris Green, who was awarded an OBE for services to communities in East Anglia

Richard Lister, acting chief executive at UCS, said: “It is so fantastic to have these ceremonies in the heart of Ipswich. It's a real reminder to everyone that Ipswich is a university town.”

Are you a UCS graduate? What was your experience of university life in Suffolk? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk