Graduation ceremony is one for the family history books

Graduation day atLancaster University was a family affair for the Wilsons - a new chapter in their history.
Tom Wilson and his parents and girlfriend  Ellie Hayward-StottTom Wilson and his parents and girlfriend  Ellie Hayward-Stott
Tom Wilson and his parents and girlfriend Ellie Hayward-Stott

Forerm students Jeremy and Judith Wilson both graduated with a biology degree in 1976.

Now, 40 years later, their son Tom has graduated with a physics degree while his girlfriend Ellie Hayward-Stott picked up with a degree in English literature.

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And, to add to the history, the two couples even attended the same colleges.

Jeremy and Tom studied at Pendle while Judith and Ellie were at Grizedale.

The family has many happy memories of their time at Lancaster University.

Jeremy recalled he and his friends playing a prank by covering up the road signs to Lancaster with “Woolloomooloo” in honour of a Monty Python sketch.

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He said: “ We used sticky back plastic in those days to cover up the sign.

“It was a bit of fun and we ended up in the national press at the time.”

After leaving university, he married his university sweetheart Judith and went on to become a teacher and his wife a lab technician.

Jeremy added:“We loved Lancaster but we didn’t expect Tom to come here.

“It is entirely coincidental.”

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Tom is continuing to follow in his father’s footsteps by staying on to do a PhD at Lancaster University while his girlfriend Ellie plans a Masters in English before going on to teacher training.

Tom said: “I love Lancaster, the campus is like a little town and they really look after you.

“Everyone is friendly and will help you out so there’s a real personal touch.”

Tom and Ellie were among the hundreds of students graduating at ceremonies at the Lancaster campus over the past week.