Full Marks For Students’ Graduation Day
5 December 2007
Happy graduates celebrate outside the Devonshire Campus
Graduation is a beginning not an end. There is more potential yet to be tapped.
”Vice-Chancellor Professor Coyne
Veterans of St John Ambulance with more than 90 years of volunteering experience between them were among students graduating from the University of Derby Buxton at the weekend.
Carol Neale, Wendy Rushby, Robert Hudson and Amanda Newton graduated with Foundation Degrees (Arts) in Voluntary Sector Management, through their voluntary work with the UK first aid charity.
They joined more than 170 students graduating at an Awards Ceremony at the University of Derby’s Devonshire Campus in Buxton, on Saturday December 1.
Despite the presence of additional uniformed St John Ambulance staff at the event, Robert said he and his gowned graduate colleagues would have been ready to pitch in if needed.
"As a volunteer you’re never really off duty," added Robert, 65, of Calow, Chesterfield.
But a smoothly run ceremony with no hitches saw diplomas, foundation degrees, honours degrees, masters and doctorates awarded under the Campus’s magnificent Dome in the presence of Professor John Coyne, University Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Academic Board; Dianne Jeffrey, Pro Chancellor and Chair of the Governing Council; Professor David Gray, Dean of the Buxton faculty; distinguished colleagues and local dignitaries.
The Awards Ceremony began at 12.15am. It followed a grand procession through Buxton of University dignitaries and graduating students led by the Fairfield Brass Band, which made its way from the Campus to St Anne’s Church for a non denominational service and back again.
Proudly watching her son Mark Allsop collect a 2:1 for his BA (Hons) degree in Sports Studies was University Catering Technician Eileen Allsop, who served tea and cakes to graduates and parents in the morning before making a quick change and joining the rest of the parents watching the afternoon ceremony.
Mark, 29, of Buxton, joined the Campus on an HND course in 2001 and, following a three year gap while he was in employment, took a ‘top up’ course to gain a full degree. He now intends to return to the Buxton Campus for a one year Masters degree course.
He said: "I like the subject and this place has been been fantastic."
Eileen, who has worked for the University and its predecessor, High Peak College, for 27 years, said: "I’m very proud of him. He did his degree while working full time."
Accepting their awards alongside students were veteran mountaineer Doug Scott and successful entrepreneur Emma Harrison, who both received Honorary Doctorates.
Emma, 44 - who has seen the A4e business skills and training agency she originally founded, to help former Sheffield steel industry workers retrain, grow to become an international force - told the audience she was delighted to be there but very nervous.
"My best wishes go to everyone today. Go out and make a difference," she told gathered students.
Commenting after the Awards Ceremony, Doug, 66 - who has made more than 45 mountaineering expeditions and was the first Briton to climb Mount Everest, in 1975 - said: "It’s been a splendid occasion. What was very apparent was the delight on the faces of the students."
Addressing the students at the Buxton Awards Ceremony, the second at the Devonshire Campus since it opened fully for teaching in September 2005, Vice-Chancellor Professor Coyne said: "Graduation is a beginning not an end. There is more potential yet to be tapped."
Dianne Jeffrey, Pro Chancellor and Chair of the Governing Council, told the assembled graduates: "You have helped us in our vision, to be a University of quality and opportunity for all. Congratulations."
The Awards Ceremonies for the Derby Campus of the University of Derby will be held on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 January at the Assembly Rooms, in Derby city centre.
For more information about the Buxton event visit:
www.derby.ac.uk/buxtongraduation.
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For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Simon Butt on 01332 591891, or 07748 920023, or email s.butt@derby.ac.uk.
Press release by Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 593004 or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
