A couple of characters from the post-graduate graduation at the Senate House. Fluffy white hoods were much in evidence today - they are MA graduands (whose only qualification is to stay out of prison and pay the fee) and red hoods - PhD graduands (at least three years hard slog). There were also a few gold hoods - I'll have to ask them some day what that is - possibly a proper worked-for Masters. The PhD's are gratifyingly given more attention in the ceremony and are presented individually rather than in rows of five. I only grabbed a couple of shots because the town is absolutely heaving with visitors but I thought I'd post these as it's 21 years since Nigel and I attended this ceremony to receive our PhDs. Ours was actually on the 21st July which four years later was the due date for my first baby - who actually arrived on the 23rd - today. Happy Birthday Rachel! She's on holiday in Dorset so there's no birthday specific shot - sigh...
Great graduation diptych! I was supposed to take pictures of a friend who graduated today (MA) but couldn't find him anywhere... Ah well, I had fun watching the students in their gowns anyway. In Germany PhD graduands don't get a ceremony at all, they just get their certificate in the post, it's quite sad...
Cambridge is such an interesting town & it must be quite a sight to see all these graduates & I never knew the different colour hoods meant different levels degrees. Great character photos & the guy in the red sash looks particularly eminent ! I love them !!
I love the facial expressions you've caught on the chaps! 21 years, gulp! - I've actually lost count of the years since I was there, but it's 21 years since I was married and it was the following year, so must be 20. I turned down the token MA (on principal, not because I was in prison!).
That's great! I'd love to see this in France too. We don't have any ceremony here. I sometimes wonder whether this is linked to a lower regard for PhD degrees from French employers.
luv the fellow on the right...looks to me as if he is sticking two fingers up to the world..but then that is my daft mind.....hey and your creeping up to the old sods brigade..the Chardonnay still tastes good at this age...it helps soften the blow when your body falls apart...i put it down to kids far from the maddening crowd...
