Master of learning! Student grandad earns fifth degree
EX-TEACHER HAS READ PHILOSOPHY, HISTORY, BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS AND JAZZ
A GRANDAD is set to bag his FIFTH degree. Robin Thomas, a former teacher with a love of learning, will graduate with a masters in philosophy from The University of Salford later this month. The 75-year-old already boasts four degrees – in history, business management, communications and jazz. The pensioner used his free bus pass and discounted railcard to regularly travel 52 miles from his Wirral home to Salford to attend lectures. Mr Thomas said: “Salford is a very good university and is my favourite out of all the universities I’ve attended in terms of one-on-one support.
“I started the degree when I was 72 and was determined to finish it by my 75th birthday, which I did.”
Mr Thomas has now encouraged the older generation to consider going to university for pleasure, rather than to enhance their career prospects.
He said his time at Salford has allowed him to ‘connect with younger people’ and said the experience was ‘refreshing.’
After retiring in 2007, Mr Thomas decided pursue his love of jazz music and attended the University of Huddersfield to study towards a degree.
The grandad-of-four originally went into further education straight from college, attending The University of Reading to study history.
“My history degree was academi- cally the most difficult of the degrees I’ve done,” he said. “Back in those days you had all your exams at the end of your three-year course, so I had up to ten exams in the space of a fortnight.
“It wasn’t like universities now where you can earn credits in your second year and can do coursework as well.
“As well as that, there wasn’t the same degree of support there is now at universities, so that made it a bit more difficult too.”
Mr Thomas, a former university rowing team captain, went to Brunel University London to study business management – and The University of Liverpool to study communications.
The mature student was inspired to study for a masters in philosophy after purchasing a memoir by Scottish poet, novelist and University of Salford Chancellor Professor Jackie Kay from a pound shop.
Mr Thomas – who is considering doing a SIXTH degree in jazz songwriting at Salford – is set to meet Prof Kay at his graduation at The Lowry in Salford Quays on July 21.
My history degree was academically the most difficult of the degrees I’ve done Robin Thomas