I'm getting quite good at this 'masquerading as an academic' thing

Back in December I took part in the Academic Procession for the winter graduation of Law students at QMUL. It was quite fun and made me feel more a part of the academic community so when the call came out for staff to take part in the summer graduation I volunteered again. The details were much the same as last time, although on this occasion I managed to get some snaps with my phone as we were preparing and in the reception afterwards. Oh, and I made good on my promise to wear my Open University gown and hood this time.

( pictures )

That last picture is of me with Prof Richard Ashcroft, Professor of Bioethics at QMUL (and @richardethics on Twitter). We go back a long way together - we were near-neighbours as children, went to the same primary and middle school and then both went to the Royal Grammar School at Guildford. Richard and I rather lost touch after going to university and my efforts to find him online were stymied for a long time by his sharing a name with a rather well-known singer. But last year we got back in touch and then, as it happens, I got a job at QMUL so would almost certainly have encountered him sooner or later anyway. I had the pleasure of attending his inaugural lecture a few months ago, and seeing his parents again for the first time in nearly three decades. It's nice when life works out like that.