Learning is a family affair

A mother and son have proved that brains certainly do run in the family after they both gained separate degrees from Teesside.

Angela Russell and her son Tom Russell will now graduate on the same day at Middlesbrough Town Hall in November. Angela will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Promoting Practice Effectiveness (Leadership and Management), while Tom will receive a BA (Hons) Human Resource Management.

Following in Grandad’s footsteps Tom, 23, has now started work at Corus in Redcar as a Human Resource Graduate Trainee after completing his placement year at the company.

The Corus connection is strong in the Russell family. Angela worked in administration for the former British Steel and her late father, Keith Parkinson, was a HR Manager for the company for 40 years.

Tom said: ‘Grandad was a big influence on me. I spent a lot of time with him growing up so I’m pleased to follow in his footsteps, to be doing now what he used to do.’

Reflecting on his own and his mother’s degree success, Tom added: ‘It’s going to be good to get the family together for our graduations.’

A mother’s pride Angela, 47, works as a Genetic Risk Assessment Practitioner at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. She has worked in various nursing roles at James Cook for the past eleven years.

Angela gained a Diploma in Adult Nursing from the University in 1997 and enrolled on her part-time degree two years ago.

She said: ’I’m really proud of Tom and so chuffed that we’ll be getting our degrees on the same day. My mum Lillian will be coming along to the Town Hall to see us both graduate.

‘I love studying and the tutors were fantastic. The degree certainly helped me to get my current job.

‘At one point the whole family was studying. As well as Tom and I, my daughter Melanie is a Teesside Nursing student and my husband Mel was working towards an NVQ in Health and Safety, so we all understood when one of us needed to disappear with the textbooks.’

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