Forty-six years ago, I made my way from my hometown in west central Scotland to live in Aberdeen. At the great age of 26 and having missed out on higher education the first time around, I went north to study politics and international relations at Aberdeen University.

The experience changed my life completely. My affection and gratitude for the institution knows no bounds. So, when a serendipitous opportunity came just before Christmas to attend its now traditional carol concert at London’s St Marylebone Parish Church, I was off to Glasgow Central at pace.

The wonderful voices of the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir made the journey south entirely worthwhile. As I sat listening to the beautifully sung carols and surrounded by generations of fellow alumni, I mused on my years in Old Aberdeen.

Read more by Martin Roche

With invaluable help from the state, I was to be given a premier league liberal education in my native land. An education that opened the door to a life that prior to taking my degree would have been almost certainly unobtainable, especially for an 11 failure. Had the cost of university not been met by the government (and a grant provided that allowed me to survive during term time) the whole thing would have been too financially daunting.

That Aberdeen education gave me permission to think, to revere evidence and fact over supposition and prejudice, to structure an argument, to honour logic and the study of history and thought, to shun insularity and celebrate the truly great benefits of free enquiry and free speech.........

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