Pensioner and widower, 72-year-old William Lyons, who lives at St Owen’s Cross near Ross-on-Wye, has just been awarded a First Class BA (Hons) History degree by the Open University.

Supposedly retired, William is a long time member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and is an Honorary Vice Chairman of its Herefordshire Area Council. He is also Chairman of the Hereford-based web design company V8 Media and a Director of another Herefordshire company, Kingchip Properties.

For a variety of reasons William didn’t go to University when he left school but maintained a deep interest in the subject of history and in 2010 decided to embrace the challenge of an Open University degree. His first year of study was interrupted by a nine-week stay in Hereford Hospital after a near-death episode from sepsis, but he was determined to return to his studies. This culminated in the award of a BA degree and he achieved the highest level of First Class Honours.

Mr Lyons told the Ross Gazette:?“I’m passionate about the pursuit of knowledge and, although it’s no doubt unusual to be awarded (one’s first) First Class degree at the age of 72, I am over the moon at realising a cherished ambition, and I highly recommend the OU process of study to people of similar age as a way of keeping one’s mind alert and fit.”