A Lancaster University graduate certainly followed in firm family footsteps when she received her degree today.

Ginny Breaks, who comes from the Pendle area, received a first class BSc in Biochemistry, on the Great Hall platform where both her parents received their degrees some 35 years earlier in 1991.

Mum and Dad Vanessa and Gavin Breaks actually met during their first week at Lancaster University on a Freshers’ Week day-trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Vanessa, a BA English Literature graduate, started out in County College, while Gavin, a BSc Geophysics graduate, was in Cartmel.

As their friendship gradually blossomed into romance, Pendle born and bred Vanessa, a teacher at Padiham Primary School for 34 years, moved into Cartmel College to be nearer to Brighouse-born and bred Gavin, who now works in the Civil Service as a Project Manager.

The couple, who were both the first in their families to go to university, later lived in a student house in Galgate.

“We have always returned to Lancaster,” said Vanessa. “It’s a lovely little city, the campus is so green and calm and we always did plenty of walking.

“There was enough going on without it being too busy and we particularly liked the college system – it’s different from other universities.”

Daughter Ginny got to know the city and campus pretty well as she was growing up, accompanying her parents on their frequent return trips.

But when it came to Ginny’s time to go to university, the couple, who also have a son, Tristan, an engineer for Network Rail, left it very much up to their daughter to make up her own mind.

Born in Burnley and brought up in Brierfield, Ginny attended Padiham Primary School (where her mum still teaches) and later St Christopher’s CE High School and Sixth Form in Accrington before making her decision to come to Lancaster University.

“My parents said I should make up my own mind,” said Ginny, a member of Fylde College, who currently lives in Lancaster city centre.

“I had visited and done various online tours of other universities, but nothing held up to Lancaster – they all looked a bit grey and concretey.

“Lancaster feels so green and closer to nature as I am not a big city person. It’s more laid back. And it was good for my degree. I did a tour of the labs and they looked really good. Lancaster was definitely my favourite.”

And life on campus has certainly proved to be the perfect match for Ginny.

“I have really enjoyed it and the teaching has been very good,” she explained. “I have particularly enjoyed the genetics-based studies and my dissertation was on specific cancer cells and DNA damage. That really intrigues me.”

Social life has included the weekly RocSoc (rock and metal society socials), a plethora of quizzes both on campus and in Lancaster, and the lure of the University’s Trim Trail woodland walks.

“I really like it here,” added Ginny. “It feels safe, it’s a very friendly campus and I am really close with the people I live with.”

And, not surprisingly, Ginny, who has enjoyed her time at Lancaster University so much, has decided to stay on to study for a Master’s degree in Biomedicine with plans to become a biomedical scientist in the NHS.