The first day of Aberdeen University graduations began this morning in jubilant style.
And although bouts of rain drenched some of the celebrations, the frequent bursts of summer sunshine were more in keeping with the atmosphere at the institute’s Kings College campus.
The day began with the skirl of bagpipes across Old Aberdeen, as students lined up at Elphinstone Hall to join the ranks of Aberdeen University graduates.
Geology, geography, zoology, archeology, English and film studies students were among the stars of today’s morning, afternoon and evening ceremonies.
Professor Christopher Soulsby, head of Aberdeen University’s School of Geoscience, began the day’s speeches as he welcomed the first batch of students, telling them it was a “momentous” occasion.
Proffesor Soulsby said: “Today is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work and persistence. You should be proud of your achievements in completing your degrees.
“Today is a day that should be filled with joy and laughter for all of you. But amongst this, there is hopefully some time for reflection.”
In her speech, senior lecturer, Dr Jillian Anable said: “Very well done to you all for all your hard work. Welcome to the so-called ‘real world’.”
Honorary degrees were also handed out to Aberdeenshire scientist Dr Adam Watson, as well as Fyfe-born novelist – and Aberdeen University alumni – Chris Rush and writer and Cambridge fellow, Robert Grant Macfarlane.
Mr Macfarlane, whose grandfather was from Tomintoul, described the recognition as “as great an honour as they get.”
His career has encompassed writing on travel, nature and the environment, as well as literary criticism.
He said it had been a thrill to see the faces of the graduates, and revealed the north-east was a place close to his heart.
“It was just a joy to join them and I feel honoured by this institution on this stunning day,” he said.
“I’ve been very involved with the work of a writer called Nan Shepard, who was from Cults. She wrote a lot about the Cairngorms. The Scottish landscape is something I’ve written a great deal about, and the Cairngorms props up more than anywhere else.”
Mr Macfarlane added that he had been proud to play his part in a “day of the Cairngorms”, following the honorary degree bestowed in Dr Watson, one the national park’s most ardent conservationists, whom he described as “a legend.”
