It’s a family affair

It's a family affair As the University of Sussex prepares to celebrate its 50^th anniversary, there is growing evidence that Sussex graduates like to keep their university in the family. No less than 27 graduates will be attending this summer's five ceremonies as parents, grandparents, partners or children of graduating students. Here are some of their stories: A third-generation Sussex student: Toni Griffiths When Toni Griffiths crosses the stage at the Dome to collect her degree in anthropology, two very important fellow graduates will be looking on with pride - her mother and her grandmother. Toni is the third generation of her family to graduate from Sussex, making Friday afternoon's ceremony (Friday 22 July at 3.30pm) a truly family affair. Toni's grandmother Rita Bennett took a degree course in French and Italian as a mature student, graduating in 1994. She now lives in Italy and is embarking on a doctorate there at the University of Salento in Puglia. Toni's mother Liesel Wilkes decided to follow Rita into higher education, and on Rita's recommendation took a place at Sussex to study Social Policy, graduating in 2002.