The Graduate

We were up early to get to Cambridge this morning for Tommy’s graduation. Poor Gavin worked until 1.30am last night (in his study at home) so he was rather tired this morning, it’s been a bit of a crunch week for him. 

We got to Downing College in good time. They had made provision for people attending the graduation to park within the college which was great, as usually we have to park somewhere in town at a cost. The graduands all looked so smart in their academic gowns and hoods, and the parents were all dressed up too. The students had a strict dress code, the men were only allowed to wear black socks, black suits and white collar shirts. There were many families from all over the world as the university is very international, one Nigerian family were all dressed in outfits all in the same matching African print. 

After coffees/teas the graduands assembled for a group photo, then got into formation to process to Senate House for the graduation ceremony. The master of the college declared they could process once around the quad for parents to take more photos of them before walking through the streets of Cambridge to get to Senate House for the ceremony. I don’t know of any other university that processes through the town to their graduation, it makes a lovely spectacle as they walk through the town led by the master and senior staff members of college, and the tourists were all stopping to take photos of them. 

Due to the strike by examiners most university exams have not been marked - the engineering faculty has marked papers as they did not strike - so while Tommy and some others have their results, most of the humanity students don’t. So today was not a 'graduation' ceremony, it was called a A Ceremony to Celebrate the end of year or something silly like that.  For all intents and purposes the ceremony was the same except for some minor differences. Most students won’t get their results until the strike is finished, which is in September. Tough for those starting jobs where it is dependent on their grade achieved! Tommy graduated with two degrees today, a Batchelor of Arts and a Master of Engineering. His hood was brown silk for engineering, worn over his academic gown. They don't wear mortarboard caps at this university.

I took so many photos today of Tommy, his engineering cohort, his friends… everyone was asking for photos. After the ceremony Adam joined us and we walked back to college for lunch. On the way we met so many friends from other colleges who were also attending their children’s graduations so it took ages to get back to college. 

Tommy is very sad to be leaving Cambridge, he has absolutely loved his time there. He will visit it again as Inca has two more years there to complete her 6 year veterinary medicine degree.

We had a picnic lunch in the college grounds, with champagne. It was lovely but then it got windy and started raining a bit. Adam had to leave to get back to work, Tommy and Inca had to get going as they were driving to Wales to join her family for a few days on Skomer island to see the puffins. We had to leave to get to the school in time for the evening events. We drove straight there, had awful traffic but got there just in time to check into the hotel, freshen up and get changed for tonight’s black tie function - a music concert followed by dinner. Gavin had to say a speech tonight at drinks to thank the teachers leaving and present their gifts, and then do another speech at dinner, so he did not really relax tonight.


We have now got back to the hotel. it is past midnight and I am quickly loading this up before going to sleep. I have hardly looked at th photos from today but selected a few and have added them to extras.