A Sheffield Hallam PhD student was accompanied to her graduation ceremony last week by the wife of A Kestrel for a Knave author Barry Hines, after writing her thesis on the book.

Graduate Simone Turnbull had not met the Eleanor Hines before Friday's ceremony and was delighted that she accepted her invitation to attend.

Simone said: "We had a meal afterwards and talked together for several hours as though we had known one another for years."

Critically acclaimed A Kestrel for a Knave was written in 1968. It tells the story of a troubled working class boy who finds solace and friendship in a kestrel that he names Kes.

Simone was inspired to write her thesis after hearing an interview with Barry Hines on BBC radio many years ago. She said: "I realised the importance of the very simple but profound message that he was trying to convey, both about and to the working class."

She has always had a great interest in working class literature and has a master's degree in the subject.

Simone said: "At 57 years old my thesis was something of a swansong, it gave me great personal satisfaction to successfully complete a job that I started several years ago."