Pensioner finally celebrates her graduation 30 years after finishing uni

A pensioner has finally donned her cap and gown – more than 30 years after leaving university.

Jennifer Tinsley, 70, completed her course in Health Visiting at Birmingham Polytechnic in 1984 but was unable to attend her graduation after staying home to care for her ill husband.

But after watching her two children graduate since, the retired nurse finally picked up her own certificate from the institution, now Birmingham City University.

Her daughter Lucy Madahar, 40, contacted the university so Jennifer could join hundreds of other students at a formal ceremony on Wednesday this week.

The OAP, of Barnt Green, Birmingham, said yesterday: “It was all a surprise and I first found out through a phone call from my son-in-law to say I’d been invited to the ceremony.

“It just didn’t seem real, things like this just don’t happen to people like me.

“At first I thought it was all being made up and they were playing a trick on me but my daughter confirmed it was true and I got to celebrate in a cap and gown. I never expected it.

“Walking across the stage to collect the parchment was all quite surreal really.”

Birmingham City University’s vice-chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “To be given the opportunity to finally present Jennifer with her certificate after all this time was as pleasing as it was heart-warming.

“When we heard Jennifer’s story we were more than happy to help and I hope it was as special and memorable a day as she had wished for.”