A PENSIONER has followed up his first class degree with a masters at the age of 77.

Age was no barrier to learning for William Lyons from St Owen's Cross near Ross-on-Wye, who studied history with the Open University and was awarded his BA degree five years ago.

Now the website development businessman has gone one better and earned his masters in Classical studies, which was presented in a ceremony at London’s Barbican.

William Lyons receiving his degree.
William Lyons receiving his degree. (William Lyons)

Mr Lyons, a former director of a website company, decided to pursue further education after regretting not getting a degree in earlier life.

“The Open University has enabled me to fulfil a long-held dream of getting the degrees I should have acquired much earlier in my life, and I am deeply grateful to the institution for providing such a fantastic opportunity – and the pursuit of knowledge is a pretty good way to keep those ageing brain cells active.”

William Lyons