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UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN - Winter Graduation stories – Friday November 25

HONORARY GRADUATE: 11am ceremony

Jeremy Huw Williams MA, DUniv, FRSA

Honorary degree: Doctor of Music

Music is represented by the internationally acclaimed Welsh baritone soloist and opera star, Jeremy Huw Williams. Since making his debut with Welsh National Opera as Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte the celebrated baritone has appeared in over sixty operatic roles. He has given performances at major venues in North and South America, Australia, Hong Kong, and most European countries. A renowned exponent of contemporary music Jeremy Huw Williams studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, at the National Opera Studio, and with April Cantelo. Jeremy Huw Williams received the inaugural Sir Geraint Evans Award for his contribution to Welsh music. No stranger to Aberdeen he has also been a popular Visiting Fellow in Performance at the University.

Graduation stories – 11am ceremony

Campaigning Councillor Debra Storr graduates today with an MSc in Urban Studies and Real Estate.

It is the second degree for the 51-year-old who graduated from the University of Loughborough just over three decades ago with a BSc in Mathematical Engineering.

“It was great fun doing the Masters but a bit of a shock writing an essay again after 33 years!” says Debra, who is a high profile campaigner against Donald Trump’s development on the Menie Estate.

“I studied alongside people from around the world and with very different backgrounds and it is a subject that I am very engaged with.

“I’m very interested in planning and the whole Trump affair highlighted to me the complicated interaction between development and planning. I wanted to know more about that.

“I now have a much deeper understanding of planning and how development works and I’m currently working out how to best use this knowledge.

“I am currently working on updating the Scottish Greens planning policy and I’m interested in making developments work for people, for the environment and ensuring they also stack up financially.”

Debra, who lives in Balmedie, is considering her next steps.

“With a wealth of practical knowledge as a councillor and my parallel career as a project manager now underpinned by the Masters, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute in political, planning or commercial spheres and I am committed to making a difference.

“The one thing I do know is that I loved all the access to ‘live’ research at the University and I want to retain those links.”

A keen kayaker, reader, dressmaker, cook and cat lover, Debra’s graduation will be watched by her partner Gordon Milne and her parents who are travelling up from Birmingham.

Debra Storr can be contacted on her mobile 07827 881874

After almost five decades in the skies, retired pilot William (Bill) Howard turned his attention to what lies hidden beneath the soil and will today (Friday November 25) collect an MA in Scottish Archaeology.

72-year-old Bill, from Kirkton of Bourtie, Inverurie, said: “Since childhood, I’ve always been fascinated by both geology and archaeology and what lies under the surface of the earth – I’ve spent more than half my life looking down on the landscape from the skies”.

But it wasn’t until 1995, while working as a commercial pilot that he decided to put his interest into practice.

“I’ve long been a keen fieldwalker and would often pick up flint artefacts, bits of pottery and stuff like that and take them to show Neil Curtis at the Marischal Museum. He suggested that I start a course. So initially I did it just for interest then later I took a Diploma in Scottish Archaeology.”

Bill, who joined the Royal Air Force in 1957 and spent time at bases across the world including time in Singapore, Gibraltar, Northern Ireland and closer to home at RAF Kinloss before becoming a commercial pilot, said he was first attracted to the University by the variety and flexible nature of the courses on offer. Although the majority of his courses involved history or archaeology, he has also undertaken studies as diverse as Latin and Ballads of North-east Scotland.

After leaving the RAF in 1981 he flew for a number of companies, some oil-related, others scheduled airlines, and also worked as a Scottish Air Ambulance pilot based in Aberdeen. Completing flexible, part-time courses enabled him to set his own pace according to the demands of his full-time job and his available free time.

Bill retired seven years ago and later decided to return to the University. He began an MA in archaeology in 2008.

“I’ve really enjoyed studying for my MA in a subject which has long held a fascination for me. The support staff and tutors have been first-class, and I love the University atmosphere” he added. “I’ve also participated in a number of local excavations including those at Barra Hill, Bruce’s Camp and Balbithan, all sites in the Inverurie area.”

“I’m particularly interested in the prehistoric up to early medieval period. My studies continue and I have other courses planned for 2012.”

Bill’s wife Jacqueline, who has supported him through his studies, will be there to watch his graduation at Elphinstone Hall.

After 17 years of studying Liz Forrest will collect her degree – achieving a lifetime’s ambition ahead of a landmark birthday.

For the 49-year-old from Kinlochewe, Wester Ross her graduation will bring another first – having studied through distance learning it will be the only time she has set foot on King’s College Campus throughout her course.

Liz, who runs a busy guest house, has had to balance the demands of her popular business and family life with studying for an MA in Scottish Cultural Studies – a task she compares to ‘juggling raw eggs’.

“I have had to keep a lot going at once and the University was very understanding when I phoned in a panic about extending deadlines when I had a house full of guests and was working ridiculously long hours!

“I’ve really enjoyed studying but it has been a long time and I was determined to finish before my 50th birthday. Graduating for me really will be the culmination of a lifelong ambition.”

Liz said completing her degree had boosted her confidence, so much so that she presented a paper on ‘Peopling the Empty Glen’ the settlement history of the Heights of Kinlochewe at the annual conference of the Scotland’s Rural Past project in Birnam last June, the article also appearing in the latest Royal Commission (RCHAMS) publication “Community Archaeology in Action”.

“As a result of the course I have been able to do the sort of thing I never imagined I would be able to do.

“It has opened up a lot of opportunities to get involved in local history projects and I am now on the Management Committee of the Gairloch History Museum.

Liz credits the patience of course-coordinator Donald Patterson in helping her to finally achieve her goal.

“Though I studied through distance learning I’ve been in close contact with my tutors over the phone and internet. After 17 years Donald will probably be glad to see the back of me!

“He and all my tutors have been a great support over the years and it will be nice to see some of them in person at the ceremony.”

Liz will be watched by husband Tom, who has also been a source of great encouragement, when she collects her degree at Elphinstone Hall.

Elliot Kinch worked exceptionally hard to overcome a learning difficulty to achieve a long held ambition – obtaining a degree from university.

The 33-year-old was eleven years old and struggling in school when his parents decided to have Elliot privately assessed at The Dyslexia Institute in Glasgow. He was diagnosed with dyscalculia - a difficulty in understanding and processing numbers and arithmetic.

And the problems had a knock-on effect for Elliot, who graduates today with an MSc in Oil & Gas Enterprise Management.

“I don’t think school really understood my condition and probably thought I was lazy and thick,” said the Aberdonian.

“While I was absolutely fine at anything without numbers, my dyscalculia affected my confidence, which was really knocked for many years. It also means I take longer to do some things, like reading.”

The father-of-two left school at 16 and began an apprenticeship with an oil services company which was the start of 17 years in the sector, with much time spent offshore in the North Sea and with international postings to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, Australia and West Africa.

Elliot then spent two years onshore based, working as a service co-ordinator within the industry and after that he decided he wanted to do something else within the sector.

“I decided to bite the bullet and apply for a Masters at the University even though I didn’t have an undergraduate degree,” he explained.

“My industry experience got me a place but when I started I did wonder if I had made a big mistake. I was the only one on my course without an undergraduate degree and I hadn’t done any studying since I left school and, of course, I have dyscalculia.

“Thankfully the University were very accepting of my situation and they put me through their learning difficulty process which helped in a number of ways, including enabling me to get extra time to complete my exams.”

It has been a hugely busy year for Elliot – as well as juggling studying he and wife Ashleigh have been raising their 3 ½-year-old son Logan and have just welcomed 10-day-old second son Hunter into the world.

“My wife has been an absolute rock. It was 17 years since I’d sat an exam so it was like driving a nail into my head! I didn’t know how to do research and I had no idea of how to study,” said Elliot, whose father is oil entrepreneur Larry Kinch. “My parents were, and are today, hugely supportive of me and I know they are immensely proud of what I have achieved.

“I got there in the end and I’m absolutely delighted that I’ve got the degree I always wanted, although it won’t sink in until I’m standing there at the ceremony with my robes on.

“I would just like to say to any child who is having difficulties in school, ask for the help they deserve and never let go of any dreams or goals. With hard work you really can succeed.”

Elliot, who is now looking for a job, will be joined at his graduation ceremony by Ashleigh and his parents.

HONORARY GRADUATE: 3pm ceremony

Michael Grant Wyllie BSc, PhD

Honorary degree: Doctor of Science

Dr Michael Wyllie is a former pharmacology student of the University with a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Wyllie, Director and Founder of Global Pharma Consulting, is a double graduate of the University of Aberdeen. He has over 30 years of experience in senior management positions in the pharmaceutical industry.

While Director of Biology at Pfizer he received a Pfizer Achievement Award for developing the world’s first high throughput screening system. He has also been involved in the discovery, development, regulatory filing and marketing of several major pharmaceutical products including sildenafil (Viagra).

Subsequently, Dr Wyllie has been involved in founding several “start up” companies and the successful listing of four of these on the London Stock Market. He is Chairman of Glycomar Ltd, the Oban-based marine biotechnology company and a member of the Kosterlitz Centre for Therapeutics advisory board.

Graduation stories – 3pm ceremony

When Claire Birnie collects her MSc today (Friday November 25) it will cap a week of double celebration for the family as her dad, Michael, was awarded a medal for 30 years service to the University of Aberdeen on Tuesday.

Claire, a former Ellon Academy pupil, will be presented with an MSc in Drug Development with Biobusiness.

The 22-year-old has kept a lot of balls in the air while studying – throughout the first nine months of her Masters’ course she was ranked the number one student in Britain for tennis.

Claire, who was awarded a sports scholarship for the University to support her studies, said balancing the demands of the game and her course proved challenging at times.

“I played for the University and took part in all university tournaments during my time at Aberdeen. One of my exams even had to be rearranged because it clashed with the British Universities Championship in London!

“Having the sports scholarship was great as it not only helped me financially but meant I always had someone to turn to for help with problems, like clashes in my timetable.”

Claire, who has also represented Great Britain at university tennis events in France, has just returned from two months travelling in Australia and New Zealand.

She will now be looking for a job in biomedical science or drug development while continuing to develop her own game and the skills of others through her role as a tennis coach in Aberdeenshire.

She added: “Tennis will always be part of my life. I love playing and coaching. I’m now looking forward to finding work in which I can apply everything I’ve learned on my Masters’ course.”

Claire’s graduation will be watched by dad Michael, a technician in the University’s School of Biological Sciences, and mum Linda, a classroom assistant at Ellon Academy.

Outstanding young scientist Michelle Leach graduates today with a PhD - her second degree from the University of Aberdeen.

And the 27-year-old credits much of her success to working in a world leading research facility at the University of Aberdeen which is investigating potentially deadly infections.

Michelle first graduated from Aberdeen in 2008 with a first class honours degree in Genetics and Immunology which also involved a one year industrial placement in Switzerland with one of the world’s biggest drug companies, Novartis.

She was then lucky enough to be awarded a highly prestigious Caledonian Research Foundation PhD Scholarship from the Carnegie Trust which funded her three year PhD studies which explored how Candida albicans reacts to stress. Just one scholar is awarded this scholarship each year.

Michelle, who has already published scientific papers and won prizes for her talks at international conferences, has now been awarded a £250,000 Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship by The Wellcome Trust. These fellowships are only awarded to the very best young scientists.

Michelle will use this four year postdoctoral fellowship to study dangerous fungal infections alongside top scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada and at Duke University in North Carolina before she returns to the University of Aberdeen to complete her studies with the Aberdeen Fungal Group.

The Group is internationally recognised for its work into potentially deadly fungal infections such as those caused by Candida albicans which lives in our body but is usually kept in check by our immune system.

If not treated effectively, Candida may cause infections that can be potentially fatal for hospital patients whose immune systems are suppressed by cancer treatments or by immunosuppressive drugs associated with organ transplants.

“I’ve always been interested in science and genetics,” says Michelle, who is originally from Surrey but has been living in Aberdeen for the last eight years.

“I find it fascinating trying to understand what makes a fungus like Candida albicans, that lives happily in peoples’ guts, turn aggressive and cause nasty infections and even kill people.

“I’ve had a really good time at University and it’s been fantastic working in the lab with the Aberdeen Fungal Group which is one of the biggest groups of its kind in the world.

“I’ve had incredible support from people like Dr Carol Munro, Professor Neil Gow and my supervisor, Professor Al Brown. They’ve really helped me get me where I am today.”

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