UNIVERSITY OF WALES, BANGOR (24/07/06) Keith Blacker, 62 of Llanfyllin in Powys, is one of the first MSc distance-learning students to graduate from the School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences at the University of Wales, Bangor. Keith, a husband and father of three, received an MSc in Forest Industries Technology with distinction. After an interesting and varied career in the manufacturing industry around the world, mainly in the automotive and aerospace sectors, Keith retired and continued his consulting career before branching out, with his wife, into forming their own forestry and timber business.

He said, “When I retired from my first career, my wife and I bought 70 acres of woodland in Llanfyllin and established a forestry and timber business. Although we had been members of the Royal Forestry Society for 30 years, we quickly discovered that we knew very little about forestry and timber operations. Taking a degree course seemed to be the best way to improve my knowledge of this field.”

Keith, who already has a BSc Honours in Electrical Engineering, an MSc in Automatic Control and a Diploma in Industrial Administration, chose to study as a distance learner through the University of Wales, Bangor.
The MSc in Forest Industries Technology is a distance learning course and is designed to allow employees of forest products industries to undertake a Master of Science level course whilst remaining in full time employment.

Keith said, “Bangor is closely involved with the Welsh Timber Forum of which I am a member. When the course was first planned, it matched my needs in both content of method of learning.”
Keith is now looking forward to a busy and fulfilling second career, he added, “The planned transformation of our forest will take at least forty years. That will keep me busy until I am 100. The rest I will leave to the Good Lord.”