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Peter keeps it in family, to a degree

Eve Dugdale
27/ 6/2007

A DAD of two has now 'caught up' with his daughters after receiving an Open University degree.

Michael Owen, 59, who is known to his friends as Peter, has just been awarded am open BA Honours degree specialising in history and social science.

Peter, who first started studying with the OU in 1982 but had to stop due to work and family commitments, returned when he took voluntary redundancy from his job with the Home Office.

The son of an WW2 RAF soldier, Peter has taken various history courses including one in Total War and Social change.

"I wasn't particularly interested in going on to university when I was young so I went straight into the job market," said Peter, of Ravens Close, Simmondley.

"I started off working for a bus company before I joined the immigration service and worked at Hull airport before moving to Heathrow then Manchester.

"I've always been interested in modern history, from the Victorian times onwards so I decided to do a history course.

"My two daughters are grown up and they're both graduates, so the joke is that I've caught up to them now.

"One teaches politics at a college in Salford and the other has a degree in psychology.

"My wife often jokes that she's the only one in family without a degree now!"

Fellow high flyer, Bill Pickup, 46, of Brook Meadow, is also celebrating after being awarded a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

He hopes to start a Masters degree next year.