So Inspiring: See the 86-year-old Grandmother Who Graduated From University After Leaving at 15

An inspiring report by Metro UK, has shown how Peggy Styles, an old woman, completed an EdD (the educational equivalent of a PhD) in counselling this year, graduating today from the University of Bristol.

She began studying for her doctorate at 78 years old, and it’s taken her eight years to complete her studies.

Now, at 86, Peggy is the oldest student to have ever graduated from the University of Bristol. The road to her EdD wasn’t easy.

Born in England to Belgian parents in 1931, Peggy moved back to Belgium when she was six, returning to England as a refugee in 1940. The changes and language difficulties meant Peggy struggled to learn, and she left school at 15 years old with only a qualification in shorthand typing.

She eventually got married, and after her husband left the army to get a job managing a factory, Peggy volunteered to help set up a refuge for abused women.

Peggy only decided to return to education when her family relocated to Bristol, and her grandson, Oliver, asked her for help with a school project on living through the Second World War.

Her grandson’s homework made Peggy reflect on her life. She decided to head to university to complete a postgraduate certificate and diploma in counselling, followed by a master degree.

At 86 years old, Peggy is the University of Bristol’s oldest ever graduate. (Picture: PA Wire)

But shortly into the start of her studies, Peggy developed a kidney infection, which meant she had to suspend her studies for 18 months.

‘I was so ill that I nearly died,’ said Peggy. ‘I was in hospital for a month and had to learn to walk again.
‘The university was absolutely super and agreed to suspend my studies until I felt better. I was determined to finish my doctorate.’

After recovering, Peggy headed back to university to write her dissertation – 48,000 words titled ‘Old Wives Tales? Changing my Perception of the World’, intended to teach the next generation about the history of the 20th Century from a human perspective.

Just as she was finishing her dissertation, Peggy’s husband passed away. She didn’t let that stop her from achieving her goals.

Today, Peggy will graduate, with her proud daughter Julie Kane, son-in-law David, and two of her three grandsons by her side.

‘I shall be quite grateful to get up to the stage without falling over,’ says soon-to-be Dr Styles. ‘I wouldn’t want to fall down at the last hurdle.

‘I was young during wartime and going to university wasn’t really on anyone’s agenda at all. Life was quite different.

‘Although the post-war period is still within living memory, culture has changed so much. This is one of the reasons I wanted to write about how society’s attitude towards the education of women has gradually changed.

‘I was lucky that the University of Bristol took me on for my postgraduate certificate and diploma in the 90s, especially as I had no A-levels.

‘After that I think I got slightly addicted to learning and the university has become like a second home.  What I’ll miss most is my fellow students and tutors – they’ve all been so nice.

‘Although I’m 86, I don’t really feel that old. My legs and arms are not what they were but my tongue still wags and my brain still functions. I’d keep studying forever if I could.’