He progressed onto a BSc in Advanced Manufacturing Systems with Business but then suffered a heart attack. After he recovered course tutor Dr Farhad Nabhani suggested Andrew transfer to the one-year assignment-based MSc. While Andrew was out later at a car auction, he developed a severe headache, one of the early signs of meningitis.
Andrew said: 鈥淭he headache kept snowballing, my neck ached, I felt confused and couldn鈥檛 stand the light. My wife Angela is a nurse and said I had to go to hospital immediately.鈥�
Angela said: 鈥淚 was terrified. The Doctor said Andrew would have had an hour to live if I hadn鈥檛 spotted it.鈥�
Andrew took a year off from the MSc. Upon his return, he sought advice from the University鈥檚 Student Support Unit and undertook assessment tests set by the Dyslexia Society, which revealed his dyslexia.
He added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an eight-year climb and so many people at the university have been fantastic. Above all, I couldn鈥檛 have achieved this without Angela; she鈥檚 been a tower of strength. We鈥檙e going to have a big celebration when I graduate.鈥�
Wednesday 28 November 10.15am