A Leven pensioner has set his sights on picking up an incredible third degree after graduating with honours from the Open University.
David Cunningham, 84, was among 664 students who had their degrees conferred at the Open University degree ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Saturday.
Mr Cunningham, who is a retired insurance salesman, was the oldest graduate at this year’s event and received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Honours in Humanities and Creative Writing.
It is the father-of-three’s second Open University degree, having received his first – a Bachelor of Arts Open degree – in 1982.
Mr Cunningham has no plans to slow down and has already started his third degree, in law, with the Open University.
He said: “Initially, it was just the idea of learning. I have always had a wide range of interests, really. I also got a part-time fee grant each year. That was an incentive for me.
“The creative writing was the element I enjoyed the most in this degree. I used the online forums to try out stories and there was a lot of exchange of ideas. I would put some stories up and we would all provide feedback – it was quite a community. I liked that.”
After his wife moved into a care home, Mr Cunningham said he turned to learning as a new challenge and his studies led him to become a member of a local writing group.
As well as gardening and walking his dog, David now regularly writes poetry and short stories. David also has 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
His two daughters, Susan and Annette, and son, Ivan, attended the ceremony with him.
“Sometimes my son would say, ‘Dad, why do you put yourself under all this pressure?’ but I liked the idea of having these little deadlines,” he said.
“They are all in awe of what I’ve done, which I can’t understand.”
Susan Stewart, director of The Open University in Scotland, said: “Our students come from all kinds of backgrounds and from all over Scotland and they study for lots of different reasons, but what they all have in common is a passionate desire to learn.
“David is a fantastic example of that passion and I’m extremely proud of him and everyone else that graduated with The Open University in Scotland today.”
Honorary degrees were also presented to Edwyn Collins, musician and producer; Maria Macnamara, founder of charity Smalls for All; Andy Scott, sculptor and artist; and Ruth Wishart, writer and broadcaster.