Graduation Day

Yesterday was Frances's graduation in Manchester.  A moment for Harriet and me to be proud parents, and for Izzi to wonder what on earth was going on.  It was all rather different to a Cambridge ceremony, but I was pleased to see that the robes were made by Ede & Ravenscroft.

Once the robes had been collected, there remained one important thing to do before graduation itself: namely, choosing a bear.  It was never like that in my day...

It was a short walk across the road to the Whitworth Hall, but being Manchester it was raining - naturally.  The hall itself is large Victorian edifice, and is absolutely stunning with a huge organ at one end.

After the ceremony, it was back across the road again for a reception and buffet lunch.  Admission was "strictly by ticket only" with only two tickets per student, but since there was nobody on the door to collect the aforementioned tickets (strictly or otherwise) we all joined Frances for something to eat.

Before handing the robes back, there was the obligatory "I wonder what I'd look like with that silly hat on" experimentation.  Izzi soon got the idea, but it seems that the Cambridge graduate doesn't quite know which way is up...  

Of course, the true graduate knew exactly how to wear it on the day.