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Sisters, in 90s, awarded degrees after 60 years

Family handout Maureen Bedford and Eileen Macleod smiling at the camera. They are photographed outside and both are wearing glasses and have short grey hair. Family handout
Maureen Bedford (left) followed in the footsteps of her sister Eileen Macleod (right) to attend the Bedford College of Physical Education

Two sisters are to receive honorary degrees at the ages of 90 and 95, more than 60 years after they finished studying.

Eileen Macleod and Maureen Bedford trained at the Bedford College of Physical Education in the 1940s and 1950s, but did not receive formal degree qualifications.

Now they are among hundreds of women who trained as PE teachers in the town between 1903 and the 1970s to be awarded honorary degrees by the University of Bedfordshire.

Maureen, from Little Hallingbury, Essex, said she was "excited" and "proud" to attend a graduation ceremony with her sister Eileen, who lives near Dundee.

BBC/Sam Read A smiling Maureen Bedford looks directly at the camera as she is photographed in a dining room. She is wearing a blue top with a flowery print, glasses and has short grey hair. BBC/Sam Read
Maureen Bedford says she particularly loved the dancing element of her training

Over the decades several institutions offered female only PE teacher training in Bedford, but did not have the power to award degrees.

A former student, Jackie Gregory, said they were paid less than some colleagues who had received no teacher training because they did not have a degree.

Ms Gregory, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, started a campaign for their work to be recognised, and said it was "amazing" that was now happening.

Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association A black and white photo of a student in river with a floating aid in front of her face. Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association
Until the 1940s women training to be PE teachers also learned to be physiotherapists

The University of Bedfordshire is awarding about 750 honorary degrees.

Some were handed out at a special graduation ceremony in 2022, and others have been sent by post. A second ceremony for about 120 women and their guests will be held on 7 September.

BBC/Sam Read A smiling Stephanie Daniels looks directly at the camera wearing large, red-rimmed glasses, a white jacket and blouse with a flowery print. BBC/Sam Read
Stephanie Daniels, who lives near Bedford, says "the best" physical education teachers were trained in the town

Stephanie Daniels studied at Bedford College of Physical Education in the late 1960s before returning as a principal lecturer in 2001.

She received an honorary degree in 2022 and said at the time of her training PE teachers were "not seen as academic as an English teacher or a language teacher because we didn't have a degree".

The degree is "for our status", she added.

supplied Penny Kite with her daughter, Sarah, at a degree ceremony in 2023 supplied
Penny Kite said she was "honoured" for the opportunity, she recently attended her daughter, Sarah's degree ceremony

Penny Kite, 69, is one of the youngest going to receive the accolade after studying at Bedford College of Physical Education between1973 and 1976.

"It's a fabulous offer for which I'm grateful," she said.

"I received my teaching certificate and went on to the University of Cambridge to do a bachelor of education year and remained in Cambridge teaching second year PE.

"I had children so I taught voluntarily in a local primary school before I went into primary teaching. I was also part of the teaching team at the University of Cambridge for the Faculty of Education."

Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association Black and white photo of two women fencing, wearing fencing tops, masks, skirts and tights. Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association
The training for students involved a range of sports such as fencing

Juliet Fern, the executive dean for the Faculty of Education, English and Sport at the University of Bedfordshire, said many women received certificate of education qualifications but the courses had the "rigour" of modern-day degrees.

In the early 1900s it was still "unusual" for women to go and train at a college and the students had left a "legacy", she said.

Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association Black and white photo of ten women who trained to be physical education teachers in Bedford dressed in late-Edwardian formal dresses. Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association
Juliet Fern said in the early 1900s it was still "unusual" for women to go and train at a college

The university has worked with the Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association to locate the women.

Jan Schofield, the president of the association, said the awarding of degrees recognised what the women "have achieved in life, not just physical education".

Bedford Physical Education Old Students' Association Black and white picture of eight women in swimming costumes sitting beside a riverBedford Physical Education Old Students' Association
Jan Schofield said the awarding of degrees recognised what the women "have achieved in life"

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