First Class French brothers celebrate together

As teenagers, brothers Mike and David French could not have imagined studying together. Over 20 years later, their attitudes have completely changed, for they have both graduated from the University of Teesside on the same day with first class BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

Mike, 47, and David, 44, grew up in Billingham. Mike now works in Qatar as a rotating equipment engineer for a national gas company, Rasgas. Mike said: ‘I got this job because of my degree. Previously I’ve worked as an engineer in Norway and Iran. Dave was talking about going back to study while I was aiming for a better job so we decided to enrol together.

‘Dave and I couldn’t have studied together as kids - three years is quite a big gap at that age. Now I think it’s brilliant that we’ve got our degrees together. We were within half-a-percent of each other in our final marks.’

David lives in Ingleby Barwick and works as a maintenance supervisor on a North Sea oil rig. Before enrolling on the degree, he was in the merchant navy for 24 years, rising to the role of chief engineer. He said: ‘I’m really pleased we both got firsts. We had no problem studying together and helping each other - we could draw on each other’s strengths and enjoyed the challenge. I agree with Mike though, we couldn’t have done this in our teens!’

Mike’s parents Sylvia and Alan, from Billingham, are both proud of their sons’ first class achievements. Alan, 76, said: ‘I think it’s fantastic, really fantastic, that they graduated together.’ Sylvia, 76, added: ‘I’m very proud of them both; I never would have thought they would get degrees on the same day.’

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