Chris Finch

BSc Hons Estate Management, 1999

"I am now a Commercial Manager at Humberside Airport."

Chris holds the University in high regard. He was able to give up his job as an Estate Agent, to read for a degree, thanks to the University's 'open door' policy for mature students.

He said: "I'm grateful to an Estate Agency seminar I attended, this opened my eyes to commercial property valuation. My grateful thanks is also extended to course leader and senior lecturer; Val Turner, who said it was not a problem that I had no A levels - counting my job experience as enough to get me onto the degree course."

After graduating, Chris worked in the surveying business. But his career was interrupted by a battle against extensive bowel cancer, diagnosed at the beginning of the millennium. It left him a nine stone weakling, unable to walk 100 metres.

But he is not one to give up. Even during chemotherapy, Chris worked part time as a retail surveyor, quickly graduating to full time work in property management and valuation.

After more than three years in remission, Chris now has a job he loves, in charge of commercial activities at Humberside airport.

Chris said: "It was the best decision I have ever made. It is a fantastic job and the opportunities are limitless. As well as being on the property side, there's a chance to deal with aviation fuel prices, landing fees, security issues, environmental issues, the list is endless.

"The airport has passed the half a million passenger mark and is taking on more and more routes - we've expanded to Bulgaria and there is anticipation that services to Croatia will follow. I do a 60-hour week through choice and it really doesn't bother me. I love the job."

Chris lives in a small village, five minutes from work, and has a three bedroomed house that he could never have afforded in the South East.

He joined the local cricket club and also plays golf - and he still finds time to contact old friends from his days at Luton.

"When I was here, Luton was at the bottom of the league tables and offensive, derogatory articles were written about the institution. I'm delighted to see Luton rise to great heights in those tables and prove their critics wrong,"

"I would heartily recommend attending Luton (now the University of Bedfordshire, Luton campus) to anyone."

Chris continues to study and is due to complete his professional RICS qualification next March, when he will become a fully qualified chartered surveyor. If you'd like to contact Chris you can email him at c.finch@humbairport.co.uk

Interview took place in 2003.