‘Inspirational’ care leaver achieves her dream of becoming a doctor

Becs Bradford, now 41, left school at 15 with no qualifications, but never lost her zeal to help others.

Dr Becs Bradford left school at 15 with no qualifications, but never lost her zeal to help others (University of Bristol/PA)

A care leaver who sat her first GCSE at the age of 35 has graduated as a doctor.

Becs Bradford left school at 15 with no qualifications, but never lost her zeal to help others.

Now aged 41, Dr Bradford has received a degree in medicine from the University of Bristol.

“I don’t know if I’m just a little delusional but I really believe that if your heart is in it, you can 100% do the crazy things you’ve always dreamed of,” she said.

“When I was young I was constantly told I would amount to nothing, that I was stupid.

“I got sick of people telling me I couldn’t do things because I was a care leaver. I wanted to prove that people like me do deserve good things, that they can get jobs that are fulfilling and well paid.”

Dr Bradford’s family had moved from Coventry to France when her father fell from a ladder and became impaled on a branch, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

When she was only 12 years old, the family lost their home and Dr Bradford ended up in care.

Despite this rocky start, she worked in France, Germany, Dubai and Australia, as cabin crew, a personal trainer and in sales.

But she knew there was something else waiting for her, and when she realised she wanted to be a doctor “everything just fell into place”.

At the age of 35, she bought GCSE revision books and self-studied to get her maths and science GCSEs. Earning a place on an access to medicine course, she would drive a six-hour round trip to lessons, all while working three jobs.

She aced the course but was devastated when she was rejected by all the universities she applied for – until she received an offer from the University of Bristol.

Despite getting financial support from the university, she still taught gym classes seven days a week and worked 12-hour assistant nursing shifts at weekends. She would often get up at 4am to study, always driven by her desire to help people.

“I just had an inner knowing that this is what I’m meant to do with my life,” she recalled.

Now Dr Bradford uses her life experiences to better understand patients and mentors people from “non-traditional backgrounds like me” to get places at the University of Bristol.

“I want to be a role model for people like me. I want to show them that you are worthy and that it doesn’t matter where you come from, that it can be done,” she said.

“People along the way will say it can’t, but you have to ignore them.

“It feels quite surreal to be graduating after all these years.

“It really does feel like a dream come true. I’m proud of myself for never giving up along the way and I hope my journey can inspire others to follow their hearts in the same way.

“It doesn’t matter when you get there, never give up on yourself.”

Professor Tansy Jessop, pro vice-chancellor for education and students, said: “Becs has achieved so much, and so often against the odds.

“Becs is not only inspirational, but her story shows the transformative power of education. Becs, your university is proud of you.”