A RAF reservist from Inverness, who completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan in the midst of his studies, was one of many Robert Gordon University students celebrating academic success yesterday.
David Caddick was joined by his wife Carolyn, along with his sons Angus and Rory, at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom to collect his PhD in Research Management.
Mr Caddick, 55, first joined the Royal Air Force in 1979 and, during his peripatetic career, served in a variety of command and staff appointments in the UK and Germany, including detachments to America, Australia and Cyprus.
He was awarded a commendation for his service in Northern Ireland in 1985, and was appointed an MBE in 1995, before retiring as a wing commander in 2001 and settling in Inverness.
He started his course at RGU in 2007, but had to answer the call of duty again three years later and take a break from his studies to command an influence team on operations in southern Afghanistan.
And now, after returning to the university and completing his studies, he intends to use his degree to continue his academic career as a lecturer at Inverness College, University of Highlands and Islands.
Mr Caddick explained that he chose RGU’s Aberdeen Business School because of the institution’s good reputation.
He said: “This is my fifth, and hopefully final degree. Graduating here at the Beach Ballroom was fantastic, because most of my previous graduations were done in absentia for a number of reasons, so to receive it in person was brilliant.
“I was commanding the 2622 (Highland) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force regiment based at RAF Lossiemouth and, along with 10 of my fellow reservists, we were mobilised to Aghanistan in 2010, so I had to suspend my studies for a year.
“The degree, which I did part time, was only meant to last for around five years, and I finally finished last year so it’s been a very long journey.
“I’m now wanting to focus and continue my research as a lecturer.”