When Alice Powney-Dugdale (née Powney) met Dr Daryl Dugdale, he was already living with terminal lung cancer. But in the 18 months she knew him, as he had with so many others, Daryl made a lasting impression.

Often described as “larger than life” and “unconventional”, Daryl was a music fanatic, a DJ and a regular at Bristol City matches.

His lifelong pursuit of social justice led him to a career in social work and eventually to Programme Director of the University of Bristol’s MSc in Social Work, where he helped train the next generation of social workers.

He died in May 2021. A month later, Alice was accepted onto the course he used to run.

Alice said: “You could never replicate someone like Daryl. He was just such a character. It didn’t matter to Daryl where you were from or what your background was, he would always include you. He just had an energy he brought when he walked into a room.

“I’m not very academic and I’d never even thought about a master’s before, but he inspired me.”

Daryl’s wife, Tracey Close, was a student on the same University of Bristol Social Work course in the ‘90s. Alice’s husband, Zak Powney-Dugdale, is a youth worker.

During the course, Alice, who grew up in Radstock, Somerset, and now lives in Bristol, learnt she was dyslexic and may have ADHD.

The 26-year-old said: “The only reason I managed to finish my dissertation is because I wanted to dedicate it to Daryl. The dedication is now framed in my office.

“As the course went on he gave me a weird ray of confidence, at times it felt like he was there.”

Alice is now working as a child protection social worker at Bristol City Council, where she “champions” young people and tries to be “a person they can depend on”. She and Zak married in August 2023.

Alice graduated in February. She celebrated the achievement with Daryl’s family and her own.

Alice said: “Being dyslexic, I was never supposed do a master’s and I was never supposed to be here, so I’m so proud. Passing means so much to me.” 

Tracey said: “I am so proud of Alice and what she has achieved. Both Daryl and I were chuffed when we knew Zak was going out with someone who wanted to make a difference in our world and was considering becoming a social worker.

“Both Daryl and I qualified as social workers from Bristol in the 1990s and Daryl really thought he had won the lottery when he became a teaching fellow on the course that had inspired him.

“Daryl was so happy that Alice had applied for the course and her journey through the course and working in the same office that he started as a social worker feels like he is beside us and guiding her.”