Ms. Terry's academic journey began in 1962 when she completed her first degree in pharmacy at the University of Manchester. Now, she's on track to finish her fourth degree—this time in religious studies, philosophy, and ethics—when she reaches her nineties. This will be her third degree from The Open University.

Her dedication to lifelong learning was celebrated on Monday in a ceremony at her parish church, where she was honoured for her impressive achievements.

A former teacher, Ms. Terry currently resides at Siddington Park and has previously earned degrees in humanities, psychology, and humanities with religious studies. She also completed a science foundation course at The Open University in 1972 before obtaining her teaching certificate.

Reflecting on her decision to continue studying during retirement, Ms. Terry said, "I can't just sit around, do nothing and watch television all the time." Instead of spending her days on crossword puzzles, she found joy in pursuing further education. "I like studying. I do enjoy it, it's not a hardship for me," she explained.

Despite her academic pursuits, Ms. Terry remains humble about her abilities. "People keep assuming I’m 'brainy' because I’m studying for my fourth degree. I'm not clever," she said. "I wasn’t brilliant at school... I was just middle of the road. You don't have to be brilliant to do it."

On May 20, Ms. Terry was presented with a framed letter recognizing her dedication to education by the Reverend Canon Graham and the Reverend Matt Frost. Ian Pickup, the pro-vice chancellor of The Open University, praised her in his letter, stating, "Your pursuit of knowledge serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement to individuals of all ages, demonstrating that with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible."