Ageing Well Award Winner

Tony Morton has graduated with a degree in history at the age of 87!  

The former Rolls Royce engineering apprentice, who went on to become director of a group of companies in Northwest England, began studying for a degree during the Covid pandemic lockdown three years ago.  

He had been hastily flown back to the UK from Portugal and was confined to his Cardiff flat. His daughter and son-in-law suggested a degree would be good way to occupy his time.  

There began Tony’s learning journey as an octogenarian. Whilst he found the studying and research interesting, his computer skills were 20 years out of date.  

He recalls: “As Covid began to lock up the UK, I was at a loss. I was a very active 84-year-old not looking forward to being locked up and lonely. Persuaded by family to fulfil one of my life’s ambitions, I began to study a degree with the OU and set out on my virtual voyage of discovery.”  

With invaluable support from his associate lecturers at tutorials and with ongoing assignment feedback, Tony was able to refresh his IT and study skills as well as widen his academic knowledge.  

Tony’s daughter, Diane was so impressed by her dad that she nominated him for the award.  

“We have witnessed the transformation that my father has experienced through studying with the OU,” she said.  

“Although it takes him twice as long to make notes, write assignments and research, he loves to study and says he wishes he had done this years ago. He truly believes that learning has added years to his life and continuously attests to this. “At a recent medical, the doctor agreed that keeping so mentally alert, organised and engaged with studies has helped dad’s mental health, memory and general well-being.”  

“Last year, he walked Hadrian’s Wall, before that Offa’s Dyke and before that the length of the UK, in between studying!”  

Having enjoyed broadening his knowledge, Tony says he has been bitten by the “history bug” and aims to continue studying.  

“I am confident that Covid was, to me personally, a turning point in my life that, with help from my amazing tutors, will result in a degree ceremony,” added Tony. 

Nominate by:
The Open University in Wales

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