Bristol social worker pays tribute to 'inspirational' father-in-law

"Passing means so much to me," said Alice Powney-Dugdale of her graduation in February

A newly-qualified social worker has paid tribute to the father-in-law who inspired her to pursue the same career.

When Alice Powney-Dugdale (née Powney) met Dr Daryl Dugdale he was already living with terminal lung cancer.

However, in the 18 months she knew him, Dr Dugdale made a lasting impression on her.

"The only reason I managed to finish my dissertation is because I wanted to dedicate it to Daryl," said the 26-year-old.

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

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

Dr Daryl Dugdale (l) was living with terminal lung cancer when Alice (r) first met him.

Dr Dugdale helped train the next generation of social workers as programme director of the University of Bristol's MSc in Social Work.

Often described as "larger than life" and "unconventional", Dr Dugdale was a music fanatic, DJ and a regular at Bristol City matches.

He died in May 2021, aged 55. A month later, Ms Powney-Dugdale, who grew up in Radstock, Somerset, was accepted on the course Dr Dugdale used to run.

'Had an energy'

"You could never replicate someone like Daryl," she said.

"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."

Ms Powney-Dugdale, 26, who lives in Bristol, graduated in February. She celebrated the achievement with her husband Zak's family and her own.

"Being dyslexic, I was never supposed to do a master's and I was never supposed to be here, so I'm so proud. Passing means so much to me," she said.

Dr Daryl Dugdale and his wife, Tracey Close, both qualified as social workers in Bristol in the 1990s

Social work is very much in the family as Dr Dugdale's wife, Tracey Close, was a student on the same University of Bristol Social Work course in the 1990s, while Ms Powney-Dugdale's husband Zak is a youth worker.

Ms Close 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.

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

Alice is now working as a child protection social worker at Bristol City Council, where she said she champions young people and tries to be "a person they can depend on".

She and Zak married last August.