At the age of 70, in January 2019, I was excited to finally begin my multidisciplinary PhD studies in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Warwick Centre for Lifelong Learning.

My planned, yet unconventional, transition from ageing pensioner to developing post-graduate research student has a personal meaning, a sense of purpose, and increasing hope for the future contained within it.

I confess to you now: I thoroughly enjoy my growing and amusing, self-image of being a ‘wrinkly rebel’ challenging ageist stereotype. However, I also regularly encounter many other ‘older people’ who are experiencing different life course transitions but may also be surviving challenging and unexpected existential threats and changes—including loss, serious illness and harsh adversity—all of which have traumatic consequences in their later life stories. I was inspired to research and write by the extraordinary power and diversity of the ‘tales of transition’ which continue to be told by the defiantly resilient senior citizens, for many years after we enter the pessimistically socially constructed, yet increasingly broad and wide-ranging domain of ‘old age’.

My own academic challenges, with recurring bouts of acute imposter syndrome, persistent anxiety issues and occasionally required talking therapies, whilst completing this daunting research project, (including two difficult periods of ‘lockdown’ during the COVID19 pandemic just when I was recruiting and interviewing participants), are very much a part of a pro-active later life process of transition, experiential learning, ‘post-traumatic growth’ (Joseph, 2013) and ultimately fulfilling personal transformation.

The regular guidance, support and patient encouragement provided by my two excellent supervisors, Barbara Merrill and Scott Revers at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, was a vital element of my success in completing my PhD research and writing my thesis.

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Despite my student status at Warwick officially ended on 28/09/2024, I am still very actively involved socially as a long-standing member of the UW Chorus and Orchestra. My alumni role also includes making regular monthly financial contributions towards music scholarships helping current students to pursue a wide range of musical interests and studies at the Warwick University Music Centre. Apart from several contacts at the CLL, such as Barbara Merrill, Scott Revers, Phil McCash, and Phil Goss, Singing bass in chorus rehearsals, events and performances at the Arts Centre is now my main social involvement on campus. I have a number of friends in the UWCO who have followed my PhD story with interest.

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