Joy for the great-gran graduate

Arts had always held a fascination for her so, inspired by her family's academic achievements, she set upon a courses that would take her into the realms of Shakespeare, the Greek epics of the Iliad and The Odyssey, the verse of the Victorian poets and the age of Enlightenment in the eighteenth century.

Mary, a widow from Clayton, also studied philosophy.

But the initial spur was knowing that her own children and her grandchildren had degrees.

She said: "Most of my children and grandchildren have degrees so I thought I'd show them that Grandma can get a degree. Obviously, there was nothing in it for me career-wise."

And, after six years of lectures, reading, essay-writing and exams, Mary finally, at the age of 85, completed her Open University Bachelor of Arts degree, which will be presented to her at a graduation ceremony in Harrogate in April.

"It has kept my brain very active," she said. "I have been very happy doing it. I was the oldest in the class but I've made some friends among the younger students. I'm not planning to take another one but it just goes to show you're never too old."

Bradford this year boasts a number of graduates who have taken up Open University courses in later life.

One of the youngest is mother Tracey McLoughlin, 36, of Sycamore Grove, Keighley, who took a BSc Honours degree while bringing up her daughter, Jessica, who is now aged six, and holding down a job as the audiology services manager at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton.

Other graduates include 49-year-old police officer Michael Dixon from Wilsden who gains a BSc in computing, maths and technology; and Ian Collett, 33, a training and development manager at Grattan, who left school at 15 and has carried out all his studies through Open University and evening class. He picks up a Master in Arts degree.

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