Third generation, fifth in the family
Luke Haxell (MPhys Hons 2025) is the third generation, and fifth in his family, to graduate from St Andrews. He and his father, Andrew Haxell (MA Hons 1992), share their multigenerational, cross-faculty experiences of studying at the University.
Luke Haxell graduated in June with an MPhys, which is the University’s five-year integrated Masters course through the School of Physics and Astronomy. He is the third generation of Haxell men to graduate from St Andrews, each from a different faculty.
Luke followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, David Haxell (BD 1981), his father, Andrew Haxell (MA Hons 1992), his mother, Gillian Haxell (née Mason, MA Hons 1992), and uncle, Richard Mason (MPhil 1992) when he matriculated as the fifth in his family to attend St Andrews. They’re just a medic away from the full set.
“There was no pressure for me to attend St Andrews,” explains Luke. “The main thing for me was that I really liked the place. It was also very well regarded for Physics, which made it the perfect option. St Andrews was always my first choice.”
Luke arrived in St Andrews from Morpeth, Northumberland, in September 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In December of his first year – like many students – he returned home to complete his studies remotely.
Luke travelled back to St Andrews for his second year which, he says, was a welcome transition from online to in-person learning. Since then, he has made the most of all that the town and the University have to offer, from enjoying Fisher & Donaldson fudge doughnuts on the rocks at Castle Sands, to Sunday league football and traditions like Raisin Weekend.
“It’s hard to pin down one ‘best thing’ about St Andrews,” he says. “I love the student atmosphere and it’s somewhere I felt I could fit in.”
Luke’s grandfather, David, lived in the town and worked as a teacher before changing his path by completing a Divinity degree at the University of St Andrews, graduating in 1981.
Andrew studied Modern History and International Relations, spent two happy years living in St Salvator’s Hall, and – as so many St Andrews students do – met his future wife, Gillian, at a student social. Today, he is Director of Graduate Futures at Northumbria University
Gillian – who had a career in librarianship before starting her own English tutoring business – was studying English Language and Literature and lived in University Hall, just one floor up from Luke’s room three decades later.
“Celebrating Luke’s graduation was a moment of real pride,” says Andrew. “We are so proud of his achievement. He didn’t have to choose St Andrews – there was no pressure or expectation to follow in what has become something of a family tradition – but the fact that he did was great.
“I think his cohort have demonstrated a lot of resilience and Luke has definitely made the most of his student experience.”
For Luke, crossing the same stage as his parents and relatives feels like a nice coincidence. “It wasn’t planned,” he says. “It’s exciting, though, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”