Graduation allows Norman’s family to celebrate his life

Published On Tue 17 Jun 2014 by Grant Hill

Photo opportunity: 1.45pm on Wednesday, 18th June outside Henry’s Coffee House, City Square. Gail and her family will be available ahead of collecting Norman’s degree.

Graduation is an emotional time for all involved but the University of Dundee’s ceremony on Wednesday afternoon will take on special significance for the family of the late Norman Riding.

Norman, a former Royal Navy paramedic, died last November just months before completing his BSc Chemistry course following a five-year battle with cancer, leaving behind wife Gail, daughter Catie (10) and son Callum (12).

He will be awarded a posthumous degree at the Caird Hall on Wednesday, 18th June when his mother, sister, niece, and parents-in-law join Gail and Catie for the ceremony. Catie, dressed in a Batman t-shirt in recognition of her father’s favourite superhero, will accept the degree in his place.

Gail says the past year had been incredibly painful for the Broughty Ferry family but that Norman’s Graduation would allow them to celebrate his life and achievements.

“Obviously I’m incredibly sad that we are without Norman but at the same time I’m really proud of what he did and I’m grateful that the University are allowing him to graduate,” she said. “It will be a special day as despite being diagnosed with cancer he continued to battle adversity and work hard on his studies.

“He remained upbeat and cheerful until about July last year, but in the last couple of months he was in a lot of pain and his quality of life wasn’t great. It will be a very proud moment to see Catie on the stage and accepting the degree for her father and allows us to celebrate what he achieved.”

Originally from Tyneside, Norman fought to save hundreds of lives during his military career, which included service in Iraq. He met Gail while both were serving in the navy but was forced to leave what his wife described as his dream job after doctors discovered a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in 2008.

Norman was studying to be a chemistry teacher when he passed away aged just 37 at the family home. In keeping with Norman’s lifelong love of superheroes, especially Batman and Superman, his friends, family and former colleagues wore comic hero T-shirts at the funeral, which also saw his coffin rigged out as the Batmobile.

The family have also established an award in his honour. The Norman G. Riding Award will be presented each year to a student at the University who, despite adverse personal or medical difficulties, has continued their studies. The inaugural winner will receive their award of £500, donated by Norman’s family, later this year.

The University’s Summer Graduation ceremonies take place in the Caird Hall in Dundee from Wednesday, 18th June to Friday, 22nd June. Morning and afternoon ceremonies will take place each day as around 3000 graduates from around the world receive their degrees.

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Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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