Hiley Website

It's midweek and we're off to Sheffield for a special event.

As it is a three hour drive across and down the country we have arranged to stay at our (middle) daughter's house in Tickhill near Doncaster.

The celebrations start almost as soon as we arrive . . .

A cake with candles . . . eleven in total.



Abigail looks delighted . . .	. . . but they are not for her . . .

Someone else is eleven today !



The Birthday Boy . . .	. . . and a card waiting on our return home.

Sorry no recipe for the doggy cake . . . but it included carrot, courgette, cheese, breadcrumbs, herbs . . . and tasted nice (I did try some).

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We were due over to Sheffield at lunchtime next day so Paula and I took the dogs for a walk in the morning.

She was kindly dog-sitting for us while we went over to the big city.

St Mary's Church, Tickhill, seen above the rooftops, at the start of our walk.

The A1(M) looking north, seen over the parapet of a motorway bridge.

This is south Yorkshire and the landscape is more arable a landscape than at home.

Winter rain has left a puddle or two and the clay soil is as slippery as it looks.

The first signs of a new spring cereal crop are beginning to show.

No crops were damaged in the making of this website . . .

as there is a public right of way diagonally across the fields.

A short round trip this morning brought us back alongside a paddock with a couple of nice grey horses.

Back to the motorway bridge looking across to Limpool Farm, Dumpling Castle and Bawtry Forest.

[ I just love some of the names on the local maps, here and in the Lakes. ]

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Time to get smartened up for the afternoon . . . will I still fit in the old suit I wonder ?

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The main reason for our visit today

is to celebrate Jenna having successfully completed her

Postgraduate Diploma in Education last summer

at Sheffield University.

The college have waited till now

for the presentation of the actual certificates.

At midday we set the sat-nav for an unknown car park

in the centre of Sheffield and headed out into the busy traffic.

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We arrive in good time and make our way to the University to meet up with Jenna.

Jen qualified in Geography at Loughborough University a few years back

and has gone on to complete a Post-grad Degree in Teacher Training here in Sheffield last summer.

She had a nicer smile in the first photo I think !

With a little time to pass between picking up the gowns, lunch and the start of proceedings,

we adjourn across the road to Weston Park, next to Firth Court College, for photos with a more academic background.



Jenna and Ann . . .	. . . daughter and proud Mum.

Jenna wanted to take a photo too . . . the exuberance of youth !

We had a few minutes to spare so we had a stroll around this city centre park.

This is the Weston Park Museum buildings which includes a 'History of Sheffield' display.



In the park is one of the oldest weather stations in the country.	It has recorded the weather here every day since 1882.

The lake in Weston Park.

It has a thriving collection of waterfowl today.

(Left) The Arts Tower of the University of Sheffield

and the Dept of Landscape beyond the lake.

Time to be heading into the Octagon to find our seats.

The eight-sided Octagon Centre . . . hence the name !

The scene is set for the presentation this afternoon and the spaces are beginning to fill up.

We were entertained by the Aliah Saxophone Quartet

(all graduates of the University's Music Department)

The stage is set and the proceedings get under way.

The students process up and across the stage.

Full marks for Prof Mary Kinsey (right) who correctly pronounced the names of all the graduands without hesitation,

irrespective of their nationality or the number of consonants in their names !

They were each congratulated by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paul White.

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A break in the procession of over four hundred graduated allowed time for a special award this afternoon.

Mrs Ann Wood was presented with Honorary Doctorate of Letters.

In her life she has received over 70 International awards including a Bafta for her Outstanding Contribution to Children's Television.

For those who have ever admired The Teletubbies and Ragdoll Productions . . . here is their creator !

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Our daughter Jenna's presentation came in the second half of the proceedings.

Despite practicing with the small camera during the first half, things never go to plan.

Just as she takes the stage, a long procession of other graduands pass right in front of my camera . . . and best laid plans were dashed !

The result of my photos, snatched between passing shoulders, were . . .



Jen waits her turn . . .	. . . climbs onto the stage	. . . walks to the centre	. . . and exits smiling.

Ooops !

Still . . . I hope I captured a good photo as she processed out of the hall.

We celebrated that evening back at Tickhill

and made our way back home the following day.


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