Law is a family affair for Richard and Joseph

Grandfather and grandson Joseph Page-Gibson and Richard Lehman have a close relationship. Richard, 29, lives with Joseph and grandmother Gail. And both also have a shared passion for Law - they are studying the subject together part-time at the University.

The duo has recently completed their first year of the part-time Law degree, the LLB (Hons).

Joseph, 72, is an analytical chemist and works two days a week for a Middlesbrough company. He achieved his first degree in Applied Chemistry from Sheffield Polytechnic. Joseph said: ‘I’ve always been interested in Law. When we first moved up here in 1982 I enrolled on a part-time Law degree at the University’s predecessor, Teesside Polytechnic. But I didn’t continue due to family commitments. Richard and I decided to enrol together at the same time.’

Richard was brought up by his grandparents and went on to study at Film School in Leeds. He then worked as a cameraman, shooting news footage for the BBC, filming music videos on tour with rock bands and also at the Reading Festival. Richard was based in London and also California for a brief period.

Richard said: ‘When I moved back up here I wanted to something constructive to engage my brain. I liked the vocational aspect of law and grandad and I have been in some lectures together. I always sit at the back and he’s always at the front. A lot of our fellow students didn’t know we were related at the start, and grandad and I started to answer a question at the same time. So I said ‘old man, you answer it’ to some surprised looks!’

When Richard finishes the degree he is aiming for further legal study, possibly to qualify as a Barrister.

Joseph added: ‘Richard’s getting better marks than me! I’ve taken part in amateur dramatics for 20 years so I’m learning the subject like a drama script. There’s a good mix of people from different backgrounds, from retail to chemists like myself. It’s a degree that’s suitable for anybody.’

The University will be hosting an evening for anyone who wishes to study Law part-time like Joseph and Richard. It takes place on Wednesday 16 July from 6.00 to 8.00pm, in the First Floor, Clarendon Building. For more details please call 01642 342308, or email sssl-ug@tees.ac.uk.

---