UHI Inverness Graduation: Special tribute played by ceremony piper for mother and daughter graduating together

Mother and daughter Margaret Burgess Aburn and Alix Aburn from Inverness studied alongside each other at UHI Inverness and were delighted to graduate together at the same ceremony.

Family is now also the motivation behind Margaret’s next project after gaining a BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage with Gaelic Studies. She is using her new-found confidence and skills to write a book about her father Pipe Major John D Burgess, one of Scotland’s most famous pipers.

A pipe tune composed for Margaret's father was played by the UHI Gaelic Officer, DJ MacIntyre during the graduation.

Margaret (55) was unable to go to university when she left school in 1987, and after working in various roles, living in Australia and leaving a 20-year career in the NHS, she joined UHI Inverness because it was the only course that fitted her interests.

“The lecturers were very much engaged with the students, and I felt they really cared about us,” said Margaret.

“There is certainly an additional confidence from having completed a degree. I always felt that I’d missed out by not attending university when I left secondary school. Proving to myself that I was capable of finishing a degree course was hugely motivational. Going through our studies with my daughter has been a great source of motivation and support.”

Her dissertation supervisor told her she thought she had a book in her, and Margaret is now writing a book about her father who won two Highland Society of London Gold Medals at 16 and made his career in piping.

Alix (23) gained BA (Hons) Gaelic Scotland after being taught in Gaelic education all the way through school from the age of five.

“Throughout the course of my degree my mother and I have encouraged each other to do our best and been a support in the harder times,” she said.

“She has always been a source of motivation in my life and that continued as we took classes together. I am grateful that I got to experience this journey with my Mam, and I am proud of both of our achievements.” 

Alix, who is due to start a part-time job teaching Gaelic to adult learners and is interested in a career in Gaelic media, was drawn to UHI Inverness because she could learn the language from a range of teachers while studying in an area so rich with its culture.

“What I enjoyed most about my course was the camaraderie and repertoire between the students and lecturers. All of the staff were kind, open and generous with their time. The wealth of knowledge that these teachers passed on was invaluable and I am grateful that I got to learn from and be supported by them.”