Delamere Academy teaching assistant gets PhD

Lorrae Campbell MA PhD, who works at Delamere CE Academy, graduated from Liverpool University.

The 52-year-old and mum-of-two is also a former army captain, an honorary research fellow at the University of Liverpool, and an author. 

Lorrae qualified as a teaching assistant after a successful career in the Royal Logistic Corps and as a contract manager in industry. 

She now runs archeology club at the school and is currently helping her old supervisor write three books, as well as a plan to turn her own thesis into a book later this year.  

Lorrae Campbell

Lorrae said: "My undergraduate degree was in archaeology and ancient history, and I went back to do my master's part-time over two years and really enjoyed it so I thought I'd go on and do a PhD. 

"I thought it would be easy, but it wasn't!

“My husband, Ewen, jokes that it is a glorified hobby, but it was really hard work and there were times when I wanted to crumple it up and throw it away, but at other times it kept me sane.

"My graduation day was fab! Only people who got PhDs were allowed to wear red robes - seven or eight amid a total of 167 at the ceremony.

“It felt like something out of Hogwarts.”

Lorrae Campbell teaching children about Romans

Lorrae added: "It was volunteering on archaeological project for the Hill Forts of the Sandstone Ridge that got me back into archaeology, about 15 years ago, and I'm really pleased to get the chance to hopefully inspire interest in the subject in a new generation of children.

“I really enjoy working at Delamere, it's a lovely environment for children to learn and a pleasure to be there.”

NWAT CEO Steve Docking added: "At all our schools across Cheshire and Shropshire we promote and encourage diverse ways of learning inside and outside the classroom.

“Having talented and interesting members of staff, who have a wide range of experience and skills, is part and parcel of that and we are proud to have people like Lorrae as part of our incredible team."