Carl is a First Class student of the year

Carl Rouse originally aimed for a History degree at the age of 18, but was forced to abandon this plan after disappointing A level grades. Now, over twenty years later, he has realised his ambition. Not only will Carl graduate today from the University of Teesside with a First Class BA (Hons) degree in History, but he will also receive two academic prizes. Today Carl will receive the historical association prize for best performance, and on Friday he will return to the Town Hall to collect the Cecil M Yuill Award for Highest Achievement in any field of study, making him student of the year.

Carl, 40, from Northallerton, has come top of his year with a First Class degree. This contrasts sharply with his A level results in the early 80s, when low grades ended his hopes of studying for a History degree in London. Carl said: “Getting a First and the student of the year award is quite a turnaround after my A levels! Getting these awards came totally out of the blue, it’s an honour and a privilege.

“My partner Hattie and my three children from my previous marriage are all coming to the graduation. My mother Pat is also coming from Norfolk, she’s as surprised as I am by the success. I would have liked my late father Arthur to have been here, nobody in our family had been to University and he would have thought it was marvellous.”

Carl is originally from Norwich and has served in the army’s Intelligence Corps, based in Britain, Northern Ireland and Germany, and reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. He followed his 12 army years by joining Cleveland Police as a Constable. Carl then started to think about University study, thanks to encouragement from Hattie and a friend.

Carl said: “The History lecturers were excellent, bordering on the outstanding. I really enjoyed the range of subjects, from the Italian Renaissance, to the French Revolution and the Cold War period. The latter was of particular interest to me, as I’d lived through this era. When I first joined the army the Cold War was still on-going and I was stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. The subject was part of my life experience.”

Carl is now aiming for post-graduate study, with the eventual goal of working as a lecturer. He added: “I’d like to thank Hattie for all of her support during the degree.”

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