These Women In Their 90s Are Being Awarded Degrees 60 Years After Graduating

Eileen Macleod and Maureen Bedford are set to receive honorary degrees at the ages of 90 and 95, respectively. This honour comes more than 60 years after they completed their studies, marking a significant moment in their lives and the history of women’s education.

A Long-Overdue Honor

Eileen and Maureen trained at the Bedford College of Physical Education during the 1940s and 1950s. Despite completing rigorous training, they, like many women of their time, did not receive formal degree qualifications. Now, decades later, the University of Bedfordshire is correcting this oversight by awarding them and hundreds of other women honorary degrees.

The sisters are part of a larger group of women who trained as physical education (PE) teachers in Bedford between 1903 and the 1970s. Although these women underwent intensive training, the institutions they attended lacked the authority to award degrees. As a result, many of them spent their careers working without the recognition or financial compensation they deserved.

A Campaign for Recognition

The effort to recognize these women’s contributions was acknowledged by Jackie Gregory, a former student from Wilmslow, Cheshire. Ms Gregory, who also trained as a PE teacher, launched a campaign to have the work and dedication of these women acknowledged. She expressed her joy and amazement that her campaign has finally borne fruit, with the University of Bedfordshire awarding approximately 750 honorary degrees.

The degrees are being awarded both in person and by post. In 2022, some women received their degrees at a special graduation ceremony, while others will attend a second ceremony scheduled for September 7th, where around 120 women and their guests will gather to celebrate this long-awaited achievement.

Reflecting on the Past

Stephanie Daniels, who studied at Bedford College of Physical Education in the late 1960s and later returned as a principal lecturer, received her honorary degree in 2022. Reflecting on her time as a student, she recalled that PE teachers were often not regarded as academic as their colleagues in other subjects because they did not hold degrees. The honorary degree, she noted, serves as a validation of their professional status and contributions.

A Legacy of Achievement

Among the youngest recipients of this honour is Penny Kite, 69, who studied at Bedford College of Physical Education from 1973 to 1976. After earning her teaching certificate, she went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Cambridge. Penny had a successful career in education, teaching at various levels and even contributing to the Faculty of Education at Cambridge.

For these women, the honorary degree is not just a symbol of academic achievement but also a recognition of their broader contributions to society. Juliet Fern, the executive dean for the Faculty of Education, English, and Sport at the University of Bedfordshire, emphasized that many of these women received certificates of education that had the "rigour" of modern degrees. She highlighted that in the early 1900s, it was still unusual for women to pursue higher education and the students who did so left a lasting legacy.

A Celebration of Life’s Work

The University of Bedfordshire, in collaboration with the Bedford Physical Education Old Students’ Association, has worked tirelessly to locate these women and ensure their contributions are recognized. Jan Schofield, president of the association, noted that the awarding of degrees is a recognition of what these women have achieved, not just in physical education but in life as a whole.

The stories of Eileen Macleod, Maureen Bedford, and their peers are a testament to the enduring value of education and the importance of recognizing contributions, even decades after the fact.