Meet the University of Winchester's newest, oldest student

Bob Lakin, of Eastgate Street, has started studying philosophy, religion and ethics at the University of Winchester at the age of 75.

Bob, who has had many jobs during his life including as a bus driver and a police officer, started the course after he completed an adult education course at Peter Symonds earlier this year.

Bob Lakin (Image: Bob Lakin)

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He told the Chronicle: “I signed up for a course, an adult education course, with Peter Symonds and I did a year studying philosophy with a lecturer called Chris Higginson, who was very good. I got to enjoy it so much, that I was looking around and thought ‘I think I can hack this’.

“So, it was the adult education course that gave me the impetus to do more.”

Bob has started having his first lessons at the university, calling it “a unique experience” due to his age.

He continued: “I think it’s a bit of a unique experience for them as well! To be honest, I was quite apprehensive because universities get quite a bit of stick for what you might call ‘progressive culture’, and I thought I might fall foul of that.

“But in fact, the ideas of diversity, equity and inclusion actually seem to apply within their ethos, and everyone’s been fine, and no one seems to think it’s that remarkable to see an old guy.

“I’m beginning to realise that it’s tough. There’s a lot to do, a lot to read, a lot to learn. But that is why you’re there. It is going to be a steep learning curve I think, because of IT. A lot of stuff you have to access you have to be pretty good at diving around on different IT systems, and so that definitely isn’t a comfort zone, and definitely not a comfort zone for people my age.

Bob outside the University of Winchester (Image: Bob Lakin)

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“That is the immediate brick wall I’m looking at, but I’m getting through it. I’m finding the things I need to find. I’m in the process of finding out what I really don’t know, so you feel a little bit, not out of your depth, but you think ‘Oh, I didn’t realise that I’d have to know that’.”

Bob said he’s not yet sure what he will do once he has completed his degree, saying: “I think, once I get into it a little bit more, I’ll know what areas I like. It’s quite a diverse course, and I’ll know what particularly is my direction.

“But I’m not going to say ‘Oh, it’s just a vanity project and I’m not going to do anything’, I’m definitely going to do something. Maybe even if it’s just to encourage people to make the most of their older age.”