A FAMILY got to share a very special moment together as three generations graduated from university on the same day.

Eddie Peckham, of Iles Court, Goatacre graduated from The Open University on Friday, October 13 alongside his daughter, Wendy Bell, 50, her husband Dave Bell, 47 and his son Robert, 26.

The 76-year old completed his degree in English Literature earlier this year, having starting it in 1981.

“I did it to keep the old meter running,” Mr Peckham explained. “My mother died from dementia and I didn’t want to go the same way, so I thought I’d do it.

“I actually started it a long time ago and decided to finish it.

“I like reading books and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was something I should have done when I was much younger.”

“I came from a working class family, you didn’t go to university then so I never even thought about going. Then this opportunity came up and bingo!

“I did two modules on creative writing, one module on a novel, and one on a 19th century novel.

“It wasn’t that bad. The one I thought would be difficult, the 19th century novel one I actually thought was wonderful.

“The others did theirs a couple of years ago and you didn’t have to graduate then. They saved theirs up so we could all graduate on the same day.”

His grandson Robert also completed his degree in Business Studies and IT this year, but Mr Peckham’s daughter Mrs Bell finished her degree in Management and Psychology in 2009 and her husband Mr Bell completed his degree in English Language and Literature in 2010.

The momentous occasion was celebrated at their graduation ceremony in Torquay, and it was made even more special as they could share the stage together.

Mr Peckham said: “It was lovely, it was a really special feeling.

“When we had the graduation ceremony we had arranged that we all went up after one another, gave the audience a bow and all left.

“It was quite unique.”