Young at heart

Friday 22 June 2007

A seventy-one year old who is partial to a bit of goth and heavy metal music is the latest advocate of lifelong learning at the University of St Andrews.

James BrownJames Brown, the son of a Blantyre mining family, graduated yesterday with an MA (Hons) in Mediaeval History after deciding to undertake a full-time degree.

“I came to St Andrews to study because I wanted to be part of a fraternity.  I just love the company of young people; I might be 71 but in my head I’m 21,” he said.

“I’ve made lots of friends during my time here and was never treated any differently because of my age.  I really felt like I belonged, it’s a very friendly environment and everybody knows me here.”

A former pupil of St John’s Grammar and Hamilton Academy, James spent 45 years in the military, unlike his siblings who worked in the mines.  He now lives in Glenrothes with his wife May, and they have three children Victoria, Hazel and Colin.

Admitting to being something of an eccentric, James cites his favourite band as Nightwish, a Finnish metal band, though also loves the music of jazz bandleader Stan Kenton.

James, who is a fluent speaker of Arabic and Urdu, plans to undertake further study into the history of the Arabian Knights, which he hopes will provide enough material for a book.

ENDS

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Ref:  Young at heart 220607

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