My Sister
Laura's Graduation Ceremony
On
Wednesday 18th June 2008, I had been allowed a day off school to attend
my big sister Laura’s graduation ceremony from Surrey University, which
was held at Guildford Cathedral and there was a going to be a reception
afterwards at the University campus.
I was very excited about the whole thing, my Dad and I set off for
Guildford early in the morning so we wouldn’t be late for the start of
the ceremony, my Dad and I both had special invitations for the big
event so it was important to be seated by 9.45am as the Ceremony started
at 10.00am sharp.
After a somewhat slow journey we managed to arrive at the Cathedral at
9.30am, and we met Laura and some of her friends, who were waiting for
us outside on the Cathedral steps. It was funny seeing my sister Laura
dressed up in her gown and wearing a black mortar board, she looked very
smart and all important, well except for the fact that the wind was very
strong and kept blowing her gown everywhere despite it being pinned to
her blouse, and her mortar board kept blowing off her head and away down
the flight of steps leading up to the Cathedral’s main entrance, which
was quite a nuisance really.
My Dad took some photographs of us all before Laura had to go and find
her seat, he even managed to take some pictures of Laura and I together
inside the Cathedral, despite being told off for doing so by one of the
vergers! Dad and I found our seats we were very near the front of the
Cathedral in the aisle on the right which was good as we had reasonable
view of where the presentations were going to take place, well we would
have done if we had of been standing on the chairs!
The organist was playing some rousing music and when the procession of
Academic Staff belonging to the University and members of the Senate
processed in, followed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and
Pro-Vice-Chancellors and the Dean of the Cathedral entered he played the
Crown Imperial by William Walton, we all stood up as the Mace was
carried into the Cathedral and placed on its stand at the front. There
were various speeches, and welcomes from the Vice-Chancellor and the
Residentiary Canon of Guildford Cathedral, after that the presentation
of the awards started, it seemed to take forever, after what seemed like
an hour, we saw Laura coming up to be bestowed with her honour, my Dad
and I were both very proud of her, even in her shapeless gown she looked
radiant, my Dad was all emotional, and had been crying on and off
through the ceremony, I knew why too, he was thinking the same as I was,
wishing our Mum could have been with us on Laura’s special day, a
landmark in her life, and ours too as we were privileged to be able to
share it with her. I am sure she was with us in spirit, looking down
from Heaven and smiling, you have to love a Dad that cries at his
daughters special moments in life because he loves them so.
Dad and I smiled at each other and waved at Laura as she went back to
her place. What a climax to a lot of hard work, we were so happy and
relieved when the ceremony ended as I was getting hungry and needed the
toilet! We had to wait for the grand procession to leave the Cathedral
and then wait for all the graduates to leave, then and only then we were
allowed to leave, almost literally last as we were seated so near the
front of the Cathedral!
