The Graduate

Here are a whole mass of graduands at Olli's graduation ceremony in the Central Hall at the University of York yesterday.

The one in the front with the excellent ginger hair is Olli and Gareth's friend Kim. I don't know what the collective noun for "graduands" is. A satisfaction of graduands? An excitement of graduands?

Until the moment you graduate - which is when the Chancellor of the University shakes your hand and said - in Olli's case - "Well done, Oliver" - you are a graduand and then you become a graduate.

If you're getting a first degree you wear a mortar board and if you're getting a doctorate you wear a funny round hat and here they are:

I liked the idea of going to the University of York when I was going to university - - but in those days it was only a few years old and didn't have much of a reputation, so I was advised against it. Shame! I went to the Concrete Jungle of Leeds instead and didn't much enjoy it.

But although it's not a very old university, York is now rated in the top hundred internationally and is renowned for its quality. Hurrah! The archaeology department is one of the best in the country.

Olli has done brilliantly well and we are all very proud of him and grateful to all those who have helped in any way.

So, here's the photo:

Congratulations, Olli, and lots of love from us all.