Music and mortar boards combined to joyous effect when the sound of bagpipes reverberated across Aberdeen University.
More than 500 graduates celebrated gaining their degrees and, among those attending yesterday’s proceedings, was honorary graduate, Dame Anne Begg.
The former Labour MP, an alumna of the University of Aberdeen with a distinguished political career, accepted a Doctorate of Honoris Causa last night.
In parliament, she served on the Work and Pensions select committee which she chaired between 2010 and 2015.
She also served as the Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South between 1997 and 2015.
Dame Anne is now a member of the Scottish social services council and patron of a number of charities.
Upon receiving her latest recognition, she declared: “I never thought I would get an honorary degree after initially studying at Aberdeen many years ago.
“I feel very privileged and honoured and it is a delight to be sharing it with so many young graduates.”
During the ceremony, Dame Anne offered the new graduates some words to live by.
She told them: “My theme for this evening is perseverance. You never know what is round the corner – for good or for bad – so the piece of advice I give to you which I have learned from my life is to stick in there.
“You will all need perseverance as you move from here into the big, bad world.
“Perseverance to get your first permanent job. Perseverance to fulfil your full potential.”
Dame Anne spoke of her experiences as a teacher and her need for perseverance to get to where she is today.
She joked: “That first year can be hell. And if you think the children are challenging, wait until you have to fit into the staff room. My advice – take your own mug.
“I actually found dealing with some of my teaching colleagues more difficult than dealing with recalcitrant adolescents. Maybe things have changed – but I doubt it.”
To close the ceremony, Dame Anne advised the graduates to remember one thing for the coming years.
She said: “To succeed in life, you don’t need to be the cleverest, you don’t need to be the most gifted or talented, you don’t need to be the most athletic, nor the prettiest, most handsome, most attractive, or be the one who wins prizes.
“But to succeed in life, you do need determination and perseverance.
“A dash of optimism helps too.”
