But, for the 81-year-old, it marked a particularly outstanding achievement as he had just been awarded his eighth degree.

Over the last 35 years, Mr Stephen has studied for two BAs, two MA (Hons), an LLB, a BD, a Phd and yesterday received an MLitt.

He said: "I started out to achieve the old mediaeval trilogy of being proficient in the arts, law and divinity and I did that.

"I'm not a first class honours individual but I got 2:1s and one of my tutors said, 'Come back and push it up a bit more'."

There is a distinct fairy-tale ambience surrounding Knockvennie, a detached villa in the leafy heart of Bearsden. Perhaps it is the watchful dragon perched on the corner of the roof or maybe it's the cryptic inscriptions around the sundial on the terrace, or the tiny lions roaring from a nook high in the hallway. Together, they create an evocative home with traces of a bygone era in every corner.