Skip to content

Former soldier to graduate with history degree at 69

Neve Gordon-FarleighNorfolk
News imageUniversity of East Anglia Mike Marshall, a man standing on the campus at the University of East Anglia, The background is slightly blurred and he is standing in the foreground. He is looking directly at the camera and is wearing a black shirt with a khaki jacket over the top and a pair of glasses over his eyes.University of East Anglia
Despite leaving school with no qualifications, Mike Marshall will graduate with a 2:1 in History and has set his sights on a Masters

A former soldier who left school at 15 with no qualifications will fulfil a lifelong dream and graduate with a history degree at the age of 69.

Mike Marshall, from Norwich, embarked on a career in the Army and later the police, despite harbouring a love of the subject.

He said a chance encounter with a member of the University of East Anglia (UEA) admissions team prompted him to apply as a mature student and, three years on, he hopes to graduate with a 2:1.

"I was very nervous of [student life]," he said. "It was incredible."

"I was in the bar in Jarrolds and happened to be sitting next to someone who worked in the UEA admissions team who told me, 'We love mature students at UEA'," he added.

"I was unsure about my qualifications, but she said: 'Just give us a ring'."

News imageMike Marshall A composite of two pictures of Mike Marshall. On the left he is wearing a black military uniform with a black and red hat. He is standing in front of a brick wall and is looking directly at the camera and smiling. On the right, Mike is standing outside in police uniform. He is standing in front of a tree with green leaves and is looking at the camera and smiling while carrying his police hat under his left arm.Mike Marshall
Marshall said his career in the Army took him across the globe and nurtured his love of history

Marshall said his parents encouraged him to leave school as a teenager in 1972 and enter the world of work.

He said: "I needed something to do. I needed a future. I originally tried the police but they turned me down because of my lack of qualifications and I happened to see a big picture in the Army careers office of a military policeman and thought, 'it's got to be that'.

"I signed up for three years and loved it so much I did 14. When I got out I joined the police service.

"I loved history all my life.

"Wherever I have gone in the world with the army and others, I've always loved to study the area and find out more about the history of it."

News imageMike Marshall Mike Marshall while serving in the army. He is sitting down with a camouflage netting above him. He is wearing a green khaki T-shirt is looking directly at the camera. He has dark hair and a moustache and is wearing a chain round his neck.Mike Marshall
Marshall, who started studying at the UEA in 2023, start he is sad to soon be leaving

He enrolled and embarked on his undergraduate studies in 2023.

"I've loved it and I'm so sad to be leaving soon," he said.

"From the first essay I wrote, to learning how to write academically, to doing my final essays now and getting top grades — the support and advice I've received from lecturers is the reason I've progressed this far."

Now at the end of his course, he is hoping to begin a history tour of Europe.

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links