Dundee University sees oldest graduate return after 80 years

Centenarian gained a first class honours degree in 1936

Dundee University’s oldest graduate has returned to campus to look at her own submissions to its archives.

Anne Walden, 101, who was an undergraduate at the university from 1932 to 1936 visited the D’Arcy Thomson Zoology Museum to relive her time there.

Mrs Walden’s visit also marked a return to her birthplace.

Born and raised on Balfour Street, where student accommodation halls now stand, Mrs Walden went on to both study and teach at the university.

Captain of the athletics team as an undergraduate, Mrs Walden graduated in 1936 with a first class honours degree in zoology and mathematics.

Her son Neil, who was with her on the visit, said: “Seventy-seven years ago, my mother was awarded the Carnegie Grant, which is really the main reason she was able to go to university.

“She had a remarkable time here and it really set her off into a career working in museums where she ultimately met my father.

“It has been three years since we have come back to the university but it is always a pleasure to see the changes here and in the city, and the recent changes are very impressive. It is good to see the university doing so well.”

Mrs Walden has gifted her degree classification, photos of the university college and documents of her time in Dundee to the university archives.

Mrs Walden has gifted her degree classification to the university archives.

Anne Walden was a student from 1932-36.