Mike's story

"I bet you don’t get too many grandads here!"

As a mature student coming back to education, I’ve found it great! Unsurprisingly, it’s very different from my first time 40 years ago. People have been very accepting. I don’t live on campus, I live at home, but I’ve been made to feel very welcome. I’ve settled in quickly and I’m enjoying being back in an academic environment.

Essex is the start of something new. I’ve had a career in business and was fortunate enough to be able to leave that ahead of normal retirement age, so I’m really enjoying coming here and doing a Masters degree – it’s a great chance to continue learning, and we’ll see what happens next.

Aside from doing a Masters, the biggest thing in my life right now is becoming a grandad for the second time – I bet you don’t get too many grandads here! The happiest moments of my life were seeing the births of my four children, but watching West Ham United win the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980 came close! Both my family and sports people have inspired me – people like Mo Farah and Sebastian Coe, who have done lots of things in public life and still want to contribute.