College welcomes graduate, aged 103

A 103-year-old woman is set to become the oldest person to receive a degree certificate from Cambridge University.

Molly Maxwell will collect the award at a special ceremony on her 104th birthday, on Tuesday - 80 years after she finished her studies at Cambridge.

Mrs Maxwell, who now lives in a nursing home in Golders Green, north London, began studying modern languages at Newnham College in 1914.

She competed her studies in 1917 and left with an "honours" certificate - women were not allowed to receive degrees and become members of the university until 1948.

Now the university has said women who completed degree courses prior to 1948 can be given certificates. And Mrs Green has asked if she can be given her just reward at long last.

"She asked the nursing staff to get in touch with us and we were delighted to help," said a Cambridge University spokesman.

"She completed the degree course and the certificate is really just a formality.

"She will certainly be the oldest person to receive a degree certificate from us."