"It's never too late to return to education": Former police officer graduates with First-Class History degree
A former police officer who decided to pursue a lifelong passion for history has graduated with a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), proving that returning to education later in life can open the door to exciting new opportunities.
As well as graduating with First-Class Honours, Richard has been recognised for his outstanding academic achievement by receiving the Professor Daniel Dawson Memorial Prize in History.
Richard Bakewell, from south Pembrokeshire, completed his BA (Hons) History after making the decision to return to university as a mature student following a successful career in policing.
For Richard, enrolling at UWTSD marked the beginning of a completely new chapter.
“Returning to education later in life was a significant step, but one that has proved to be incredibly rewarding,” he said.
“I chose UWTSD because of its strong reputation and because I could study close to home while balancing family commitments. From my very first interaction with the University, everyone was welcoming, approachable and supportive, which gave me the confidence to take that first step.”
Richard initially enrolled on the BA Archaeology programme before discovering that History was where his real passion lay. With support from the University, he transferred courses while continuing to study archaeology through optional modules.
“The University made that transition incredibly straightforward,” he said. “The lecturers challenged me academically, encouraged independent thinking and were always generous with their time, guidance and support.”
As his confidence grew, so did his ambitions.
One of the highlights of Richard’s degree was his dissertation, which explored the Second World War air raids on Pembroke Dock and examined how local wartime experiences fit within the wider national narrative of the Blitz.
“Researching such an important aspect of local history was one of the most rewarding parts of my degree,” he said. “It reinforced how studying one place in depth can contribute to a broader understanding of our shared past.”
Like many mature students, Richard found returning to academic study challenging after years away from education.
“Academic writing, referencing and independent research all required me to develop new skills,” he said. “At first it felt daunting, but with the support of my lecturers and by putting in consistent effort, I gradually became more confident.”
That hard work culminated in an achievement beyond even his own expectations.
“My aim was simply to challenge myself intellectually, deepen my understanding of history and develop new research and analytical skills in a subject I love. Graduating with First-Class Honours has exceeded anything I imagined when I first enrolled.”
Now, Richard hopes to continue researching Pembrokeshire’s rich local history while pursuing opportunities within the heritage sector.
“I’d love to continue researching local history and use the skills I’ve developed during my degree to help preserve and share our local heritage.”
Looking back on his journey, Richard has a clear message for anyone considering returning to university later in life.
“It is never too late to return to education. If you have a passion for learning, don’t let your age or the time you’ve spent away from studying hold you back. The support is there, and the rewards are well worth it.”
Dr Harriett Webster, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at UWTSD, said Richard’s success reflected the determination he had shown throughout his studies.
“Richard has been a pleasure to teach. Returning to higher education after a successful career takes courage and commitment, and he embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and determination.
“It is particularly fitting that his achievements have been recognised through the award of the Professor Daniel Dawson Memorial Prize in History. His academic work was consistently of a very high standard, and he demonstrated excellent research, analytical and critical thinking skills. His dissertation on the Second World War air raids on Pembroke Dock was a thoughtful and engaging piece of research that made an important contribution to our understanding of local history within a wider national context.
“Richard’s achievement of a First-Class Honours degree is thoroughly deserved. He has shown that it is never too late to pursue your ambitions, and I hope his story will inspire other mature students who may be considering taking the same step.”
Richard would encourage anyone thinking about returning to education to consider UWTSD.
“The course combines excellent teaching with genuine support from staff who really care about their students. It develops valuable research, communication and critical-thinking skills while allowing you to study something you’re genuinely passionate about.”
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076