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University of Aberdeen Winter Graduation stories – Thursday November 24

HONORARY GRADUATE: 11am ceremony

Dame Hazel Genn DBE, QC (Hon), FBA, BA, LLB, LLD

Honorary degree: Doctor of Laws

Professor Dame Hazel Genn is an internationally renowned scholar on civil justice and is Dean of Laws, Professor of Socio-Legal Studies and co-director of the UCL Judicial Institute in the Faculty of Laws at University College London, where she is also an Honorary Fellow.

In 2006 Dame Hazel was appointed an Inaugural Commissioner of the new Judicial Appointments Commission established under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and also served as a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life from 2003 to 2007.

In 2009 she was appointed to the Secretary of State's Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity. A Fellow of the British Academy, she was awarded the US Law and Society International Prize for distinguished scholarship in 2005. She has also been a member of the Judicial Studies Board for 12 years, contributing to the training for the judiciary at all levels.

Graduation stories – 11am ceremony

Hayley Webster graduates today (Thursday November 24) after battling a chronic illness to collect her Masters in Philosophy.

Hayley, from Aberdeen who graduated from the University in 2010 with a First class degree in English and Philosophy, has ulcerative colitis, which due to complications caused her immune system to crash not long before her dissertation was due.

Despite undergoing large amounts of treatment at the time, Hayley managed to finish her dissertation and has gained a Distinction for her Masters.

Hayley said “I found it hard at times to study, especially as the drugs I was on affected my memory and cognition. However I studied hard despite all the treatments and their side effects, and I am really proud to be collecting my Masters today.”

Hayley’s achievements have not been limited to her studies. She has also won prizes from the University for Creative writing.

She writes what she describes as creepy fairy tales which are partly based on her childhood in Scotland.

Hayley will remain at the University for a little while longer as she has been asked to teach philosophy at the University in January and at the University’s Summer School. After this she hopes to study a PhD at an American institution.

Gaining a degree has required mum-of-five Tracey Forbes to master time management as well as her academic discipline.

The 42 year-old will today (Thursday November 24) collect an MA in Sociology with First Class honours and hopes to use her success to encourage others to take on the challenge of higher education.

Tracey, from Tarland, Deeside, returned to education four years ago when she enrolled on an HND in Social Science at Aberdeen College. She excelled at the course and was accepted straight onto the third year of her degree programme at the University.

Joining the course at an advanced level would be a challenge for anyone but the busy mum also had to juggle caring for son Lewis aged eight and daughter Hannah, 15 and multiple jobs.

She said: “It took a little while for me to settle down as university is very different to college but I absolutely loved studying.

“Initially I was working two jobs but toward the end I cut this down to one, though it still meant I had to be very organised.

“Living out in Tarland meant I had three hours of travelling each day so I tried to make the most of this – recording my notes onto a dictaphone so I could listen to them in the car in the run up to exams!”

Tracey’s graduation could be the start of a double celebration this week as her eldest daughter is expecting her first grandchild any day.

And it will be a family affair at the ceremony with her daughters Charlotte and Katie, 18 and Michaela 21, joining their siblings to watch her collect her degree.

Tracey is now studying for MRes in Social Research at Aberdeen and hopes to use research and experience to help others return to education.

“I decided to go back to college to build up my confidence and I know how beneficial it has been for me.

“I really want to use my experience to support people in continuing education, particularly those individuals who might be nervous about accessing education.

“I appreciate how daunting it can be but I have met some very inspirational people and have had amazing support from the University. It really spurred me on and I hope one day to be able to do the same for others.”

Tracey added that she was delighted her family will be around her to watch as she graduates.

“I couldn’t have reached this stage without the support of my amazing children. They have encouraged me to keep going when things were tough and it will be a really special moment knowing they are there to watch as I collect my degree.”

“Most people retire from law to take up art, not the other way round”, is a phrase Jayne Holliday has grown used to hearing.

The 42-year-old mum of three took the unusual step of giving up life as a practicing artist to study for a law degree and will now add an LLM to the growing list of letters after her name.

Jayne, from Laurencekirk, will graduate today (Thursday November 24) with a Master of Laws in Private International Law, with distinction.

It follows a busy few years for Jayne who gained not one but two degrees in 2010.

“When I was 34 I decided to study for a degree with the Open University,” she said. “Before that I’d spent 10 years working as a landscape artist working mostly with oils, and as an art tutor with Aberdeenshire Council.

“After several years working towards my OU degree in Humanities and History, I decided I also wanted to study law and enrolled for an LLB at Aberdeen.

“It meant I had several months trying to combine both courses so it was a very busy time and meant I graduated from Aberdeen in June last year and then from the OU in the December!”

Jayne also had to balance the demands of family life with children Robin 19, Lewis 16 and Isabella 12 with her course.

“I do look back and wonder what I was thinking to take all this on – when I started my eldest son was only 11,” she added.

“There were times when our kitchen table was very busy when the boys had their main exams at the same time as my finals.

“But I think when you start something you have to complete it and I have really enjoyed studying for the LLM, not least due to the enthusiasm of the lecturers and excellent teaching.

“I’ve gained an understanding of other legal systems, something which is particularly important in the days of modern technology as when we log onto the internet we make transactions with people all over the world.

“I’ve gained some really good friends and will be continuing with my studies as I plan to begin a PhD next year.”

Jayne’s graduation will be watched by husband Richard and her father, Neville Rigby.

A passion for language and the law led Helen Boyd to study for a five-year LLB course which saw her spend a year in Germany.

The 24-year-old, who has made Aberdeen her home, will graduate today with a Bachelor of Laws and German Law with First-Class honours.

And she has quickly put the skills gained on her course to use, establishing a business, Working Language Ltd, in the Granite City which provides language and cultural awareness training to oil and gas companies with a fellow Aberdeen graduate, Valerie Kemp.

“The business is stressful and hard work but a law degree stands you in good stead,” she said.

“I really enjoyed the time I spent in Germany at the University of Regensburg as part of my course and it has helped with the business.

“It was taught and examined wholly in German so I had to develop my language skills quickly.”

Helen’s talent for her subject meant she was awarded the BS Ranjit - Michael Macfarland Scholarship, given to a final year LLB student who not only demonstrates excellent grades but a commitment to Law through extra-curricular interests and abilities in activities such as mooting, negotiation and advocacy.

During her time as an undergraduate she was an active member of the Aberdeen University Law Mooting Society. In successive years she was the First Year rep, the Secretary, Treasurer. She also won the First Year Mooting Competition in 2006 and competed in the final of the Main Competition in 2011

Helen, originally from St Andrews, will be presented with an award which comes with the scholarship at a ceremony in the Law School following her graduation.

HONORARY GRADUATE: 3pm ceremony

The Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Henry Sacks

Honorary degree: Doctor of Laws

A greatly respected religious leader, Jonathan Sacks has been the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since 1991. Prior to his appointment, Rabbi Sacks was the Principal of Jews' College. The Chief Rabbi is a prolific and award-winning author.

A frequent contributor to radio, television and the national press, he delivered the annual Reith Lectures in 1990. He has also been visiting professor at several universities in Britain, the United States and Israel. Chief Rabbi Sacks took his seat in the House of Lords in 2009. In 2011 Lord Sacks was awarded the Ladislaus Laszt Ecumenical and Social Concern Award by Ben-Gurion University, a prize which acknowledged his status as a "widely-published theologian and philosopher whose aspirations for truth and mutual respect of all peoples guide his actions"

HONORARY GRADUATE: 3pm ceremony

Jennifer Anne Shirreffs MBE, DL, CStJ, BSc

Honorary degree: Master of the University

Mrs Jenny Shirreffs, an Aberdeen graduate, has been a prominent volunteer and contributor to the charitable sector in Aberdeen over many years. Child welfare, disability, medical charities, and the arts in Aberdeen have all benefitted from her sustained and dedicated efforts.

Over the years she has remained close to the University, serving on the General Council Business Committee and the Alumnus Association Management Committee among many others. A Commander of the Order of St John and Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen, Mrs Shirreffs’ voluntary service to the community was recognised with the MBE in 2009

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