Student, 88, overcomes cancer and finishes degree

An 88-year-old student has said "it is never too late to study" after overcoming cancer to pass his degree.

Trevor Brooker, of Beyton, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, has achieved an upper 2:1 degree in English Language and English Literature from the Open University.

The former business owner had to put the books to one side for about six weeks when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which he said was a "bit annoying".

Brooker received his results on 25 October, the same day his eldest grandson and wife welcomed a baby boy, making him a great-grandfather.

"It turned out to be a wonderful coincidence," he said.

Brooker left school in 1955 with "a few rather mediocre" O-levels.

He was a hospital admin worker, and worked with medical companies, before starting his own firm manufacturing contact lenses - retiring in 1998 aged 59.

Brooker was inspired to enrol on the part-time course six years ago while living in Buckinghamshire, after his daughter Helen persuaded him that he "really needed a project".

"There were occasions when it was taking up a lot of my time and a little tough or there was a subject I found difficult, but I never thought of jacking it in.

"Also, all four grandsons, who thought the whole thing was hilarious, were encouraging me because they were all either at university or had finished."

Brooker credits his success to the support of his family - including his wife Barbara - which was vital during the latter stages of his course.

He had to pause the studying for about six weeks to allow for an operation and radiotherapy.

"I was going to finish it, come what may, hell or high water," he said.

"It would have been ridiculous to do nearly six years and then stop, and to lose the whole thing would have just been unconscionable."

"Anybody who has got any interest in a subject should never think it's too late to study that, because it clearly isn't," he added.

"For me it was inspirational, helped reawaken my interest in a subject, and taught me an awful lot."

Brooker's graduation ceremony will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London in April, around the same time he turns 89. But then what does he plan to do?

"The university has been bombarding me with job offers, but this was just about personal satisfaction rather than with a career in mind," he said.

"I had thought about whether it might be interesting to do a masters, but that's another year, and I fancied a break after six."

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