Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm from Bollington, a small village in Cheshire on the edge of the Peak District. I'm also a mature student, although I keep accidentally telling people I'm 30 when I'm actually still 29!

Before Durham, I worked in my family's scrapyard business. I left school with just my GCSEs and never imagined I'd end up at a university like Durham.

Everything changed about three years ago when I was diagnosed with arthritis in my spine and slipped discs. My doctor basically told me that physical work wasn't going to be an option anymore. At the same time, my wife and I were expecting our daughter, so it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.

I remember going home and saying, "I don't know what I'm going to do now." My wife had a completely different perspective. She said, "Don't look at it as a negative. It's a blank slate. You can do anything."

I'd always liked the idea of becoming a history teacher, so with her encouragement I got in touch with Macclesfield College and enrolled on an Access to Higher Education course. The tutor there pushed me to aim high and suggested I apply to Durham.

I genuinely never thought I'd get in. When I received an offer and then found out I'd also been awarded a scholarship, it felt surreal. It made all the hard work feel worthwhile.

How are you finding Durham so far?

I've absolutely loved it.

Coming from a scrapyard and building sites into an academic environment has been a huge change, but I've settled in much better than I ever expected. The tutors and lecturers have been incredibly supportive, which has made a massive difference.

I'm currently in my first year and right in the middle of exams and revision. That's interesting enough on its own, but doing it with a very energetic two-year-old at home is definitely an extra challenge!

Has balancing university and family life been difficult?

Honestly, not as much as I expected.

A huge part of that is down to the scholarship. Before coming to university, I assumed I'd need to work alongside my studies to make everything fit financially. The additional support has taken away so much pressure and allowed me to focus on both my degree and my family.

I was talking to one of the younger students recently who asked if exams felt stressful. I said they definitely do when you're revising, but after years of working and dealing with real-life responsibilities, you learn how to manage pressure and deadlines.

I probably have a very different perspective from some of the younger students, but I learn from them too. Looking back, I don't think I would've been ready for university at 18. For me, getting here ten years later was probably exactly the right timing.

Where did your love of history come from?

I've always loved history.

When I was younger, my dad and I used to watch Time Team together. We'd sit and watch Tony Robinson and the archaeologists uncover Roman pottery and all sorts of fascinating finds. I was completely hooked.

History was also one of the few subjects I really enjoyed at school and probably the one I did best in. I just didn't appreciate at the time that it was something I genuinely cared about.

Coming back to education has made me realise that if something genuinely interests you, it's worth pursuing.

What have been your favourite parts of the course?

Two modules have really stood out.

The first is Making History. It's completely changed how I think about history and how historians interpret and write about the past.

The second is my medieval history module, Decline and Crisis, 1300-1500. I've always been fascinated by the medieval period, and the teaching has been brilliant. Watching lecturers and tutors build arguments, analyse evidence and approach historical problems has been one of the most rewarding parts of the degree.

Good teaching makes such a difference. One thing that's surprised me about Durham is how approachable the academics are. I'd expected university to feel much more formal, but it really doesn't.

What difference has the scholarship made?

Honestly, it's changed everything.

The biggest thing it has given me is time. Time to focus on my studies. Time to think about my future. Most importantly, time with my daughter.

Because of the financial support, I haven't had to constantly worry about paying bills or trying to fit work around everything else. Instead, I've been able to spend time with my family and make the most of being here.

We've had the chance to explore the North East together and visit places we probably wouldn't otherwise have seen. Those are memories I'll always be grateful for.

Do you remember finding out you'd received the scholarship?

I first received an email about it but somehow completely missed it. I ended up ringing Durham's IT department because I couldn't work out why I hadn't received any information. After a lot of confusion, we realised everything had already been sent to my Durham email account. I just hadn't actually checked it!

When I finally logged in, I found weeks' worth of emails about scholarships, enrolment, grants and everything else. I panicked a bit.

Fortunately, my wife is much more organised than I am. She calmly sat me down and told me to work through everything one step at a time. As usual, she was right.

She has honestly been my lifesaver throughout this whole journey.

Who was the first person you told?

My wife, without a doubt.

Coming to Durham hasn't just changed my life. She left her job, family, friends and support network so that I could come here and pursue this opportunity.

When I told her I'd received the scholarship, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from both of our shoulders.

It wasn't just financial support. It was confirmation that somebody believed in me and thought I could succeed.

The funny thing is, she was the one who convinced me to apply in the first place. I nearly talked myself out of it because I assumed everyone else applying would be far more talented than me. She basically said, "You'll never know unless you try."

Thankfully, she didn't let me talk myself out of it.

What are your plans after graduation?

Teaching is definitely something I'm interested in, and it's a path I'll explore while I'm here.

At the same time, I'm keeping an open mind. A History degree develops analytical and critical thinking skills that transfer into all sorts of careers, so I'm interested to see where those opportunities might lead.

One thing I do know is that I'm looking forward to working again. I'd worked for most of my life before coming to university, including helping run the family scrapyard at a young age, so stepping away from that world was a huge adjustment.

Whatever comes next, I'm excited about it.

What would you say to the donors who made your scholarship possible?

Honestly, I'd simply say thank you.

I know that's a simple answer, but it's the truth.

I'd probably show them photos of me and my daughter visiting castles and English Heritage sites on random weekdays. That's what their support has really given me.

People often talk about scholarships in financial terms, but for me the biggest gift has been time. Time with my family. Time to study. Time to think about what comes next.

I'll always be incredibly grateful that someone chose to invest in me and my future.

What does this opportunity mean to you now?

More than anything, it means being able to build a better future for my family.

My wife has believed in me from day one. She made enormous sacrifices so that I could pursue this degree, and now it feels like I have the chance to give something back.

Becoming a parent changes how you think about success. It's no longer just about what you can achieve for yourself. It's about creating opportunities for your children and building a stable future for the people you love.

That's what this degree means to me. I don't want it to be something that ends up framed on a wall. I want it to be the foundation for the next chapter of our lives.

Alfie's story is just one of hundreds here at Durham. We are all so proud of our community of scholars. You can read more Scholar stories here and see the real impact you can have on the next generation of Durham Students. 

Want to make a gift to help support our talent scholars - Make a gift