Tributes paid to the 'truly exceptional' Dr Maxwell-Irving

Dr Alastair Maxwell-Irving, thought to be the oldest person in Scotland to achieve a PhD, has passed away.

The retired engineer became Glasgow Caledonian University's oldest graduate after becoming a Doctor of Philosophy at the age of 85 in 2020.

The award was made in recognition of a lifetime of historical research, which included two books on the history of the Tower Houses of the Scottish Borders.

At the time of his graduation, he reflected:  "It is the culmination of many years of research on a subject that has fascinated me since childhood.”

Dr Maxwell-Irving died peacefully on February 29 aged 88.

Professor Oonagh Walsh, who supervised the PhD, said: "Alastair was an exceptional graduate student, not only in terms of achieving his PhD at a late stage in his life, but in the originality of his research topic.

"The culmination of a life-long labour of love, his work on Scottish border towers remains a significant contribution to knowledge and the preservation of a unique part of Scottish history and identity.

"He leaves an important academic legacy, as well as warm recollections of his enthusiastic and idiosyncratic approach to his doctoral studies on the part of my co-supervisor, Professor Fiona Skillen, and myself."

A keen reader with a collection of more than 2000 reference books, Alastair served as an honorary assistant with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland for more than 40 years.

Professor John Lennon, speaking after the PhD award, said: "Achieving a PhD at any age is a triumph but this is a truly exceptional case and reaffirms our view that higher education should be accessible to all irrespective of age or any other factors."