Honorary degrees for women 60 years after studies

More than 500 women have received honorary degrees at a special graduation ceremony, some more than 70 years after completing their studies.

The women all completed teacher training courses at the The Lady Mabel College of Physical Education, at Wentworth Woodhouse, between 1950 and 1977 but did not receive a formal degree qualification.

On Monday the former students were recognised by Sheffield Hallam University following a campaign by Pam Hunt, who was a former student at the college.

She said: “It’s just been such a long time coming and I’m so grateful that we’ve been able to do it for those trailblazers – the very first students.”

Ms Hunt, who went on to become a PE teacher and head of pastoral care and safeguarding, said not having a degree had been a barrier to her career.

“Once we got into the workplace, we didn’t receive the same salaries – we were on lower pay scales – and often progression and getting leadership roles was more difficult,” she said.

She said Lady Mabel College students “always felt like our courses were the equivalent of degree courses” but PE and the arts were deemed “inferior” subjects at the time.

Fellow former student Janice Hopson, who completed her studies at the college in 1976, said receiving a degree almost 50 years later “seems very, very strange, but is quite exhilarating”.

She said she “never much thought about” not being awarded one at the time because she was excited to qualify as a teacher – a profession she spent 30 years in.

Meanwhile, 94-year-old Sybil Wilbraham, who started her studies in 1949, said he was collecting her degree “73 years late” but that the feeling “hasn’t impinged yet”.

Nicola Rawlings, deputy chief operating officer at Sheffield Hallam University, explained Lady Mabel College was absorbed by the university in 1977, when it was formerly known as Sheffield City Polytechnic.

“Lady Mabel College has got a very active alumni association, and they have been working very hard to make this happen, and the university has been really happy to work with them on this,” she said.

“At the time, teaching training colleges weren’t allowed to issue degrees – even though they were working at degree level.

“A lot of work has been going on the in the background to rectify that and recognise these inspiring women.”