In a week that sees the University of Aberdeen celebrate winter graduations, when many of our students are recognised for their postgraduate studies, we’re sharing the story of three members of the same family who all undertook postgraduate degrees at Aberdeen over the course of 74 years.
For David Tucker’s family, the University of Aberdeen represents more than just a place of study - it’s a strong thread that connects three generations. When David came to Aberdeen in 2003 to undertake an MLitt in Strategic Studies, he was following in his father-in-law’s footsteps. Neil MacLean qualified as a teacher in 1949 and then, over 70 years later, his granddaughter, David’s daughter Stefanie, also completed her postgraduate studies in 2023 with an MSc in International Commercial Real Estate.
Apart from them all choosing to study at Aberdeen, the family has no other connection to the city. Neil, who passed away in 2010, hailed from Glasgow. After serving in the RAF during World War II, his passion for teaching saw him chose Aberdeen’s College of Education because he believed it offered the best teacher training in Scotland. A keen sportsman, he embraced student life and earned a Half-Blue for basketball.
Originally from London, David grew up in East Anglia. However, after marrying Neil’s daughter, he now proudly calls Scotland home, even though his career in the Royal Air Force currently sees him stationed in Germany. David came to Aberdeen for a year’s sabbatical under the Chief of Air Staff’s Fellows programme, completing his MLitt in 2004. While at Aberdeen, he fondly remembers working in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden on sunny days and socialising at the Bobbin and the Student Union. He also fully embraced extra-curricular activities and joined the Politics & International Relations Society while also taking evening classes in French and Italian.
As the third generation of Aberdeen graduates, Stefanie completed her MSc in International Commercial Real Estate just two years ago. Born in Germany, Stefanie grew up between Scotland and England. After earning her first degree in Geography at Glasgow University, she selected Aberdeen for her MSc because of our strong reputation and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation - a vital step towards her chosen career. An elite athlete who runs for Scotland, Stefanie trained with the Aberdeen Athletics Club during her time at Aberdeen.
The impact of their Aberdeen education left deep and lasting impressions on the lives of Neil, David and Stefanie. Neil went on to dedicate his life to education, ultimately becoming a lecturer at Jordanhill College and a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, specialising in special needs education for deaf children. David has since continued his RAF career, currently serving as a NATO Staff Officer at HQ Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany and has stayed in touch with his dissertation supervisor Professor Trevor Salmon. Following graduation, Stefanie secured a graduate training position with CBRE in Glasgow. She recently passed her RICS exams and secured her dream job, working as a Chartered Surveyor based in Glasgow and continues to keep in contact with friends and staff from her course.
