Degree honour for devoted teaching couple

HONORARY degrees: Donald and Alice Smith have taught countless pupils in Oldham.

A couple who fell in love on a teaching course more than 60 years ago have been given honorary degrees in recognition of their careers.

Donald and Alice Smith of Royton met in 1951 while studying at Worcester Teacher Training College.

Both have received an honorary BA Honours degree in education.

After studying at the college — now Worcester University — they returned to Oldham together to begin their careers.

Donald (81) taught at Royton and Crompton Secondary School, Blackshaw Lane Primary and Yew Tree School, before becoming head teacher at Mills Hill Primary School.

Alice worked at All Saints Missionary school before teaching at other schools in Royton, including Thorpe Primary School. She went on to become deputy head at Lyndhurst Primary.

University officials handed them the accolade for the “positive ethos they brought to the college”.


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