A FORMER television sports broadcaster and journalist from Cookley is celebrating after achieving a degree in history at the age of 65.

Steve Lee recently graduated from the Open University - just 47 years after he first started a degree at Reading University in 1970, much to the delight of his mother who was denied art college by her father.

Mr Lee, a former Midlands Today sports presenter and Sky Sports reporter, said: "We lived on a council estate and I was the first child from my family to go to University and mother, Olive, was so proud.

"She was a tough Londoner, who always had a bee in her bonnet about education after not being allowed to go to art school.

"When I left University after two terms on a teenage whim, it broke her heart.

"But she never told me that - she merely encouraged me in a career in journalism which has led to a newspaper career and one in radio and television.

"Sadly, she died in 1986, before my career had really taken off but she was always the inspiration for everything I did."

Steve went on to cover the 1998 World Cup for BBC TV Sport and worked regularly on Match of the Day and Football Focus. He also worked for Channel 4 and 5.

Nowadays, Steve works as a freelance for Sky Sports and other media outlets.

He said: "To be honest, this degree has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it has been truly life changing.

"I have spent six years doing part-time study, as well as following a broadcasting career.

"I guess I am like a lot of old journalists - once it is in your blood, it stays there.

"My mother always used to say that once you had an education no one could take it from you and she has been my inspiration through my down moments."

Steve has three children and two grandchildren. His daughter Becky runs her own marketing and PR agency in Newcastle-under-Lyme and eldest son Ben works for the Guardian online, in New York. Youngest son Will is off to Bath University in September, after completing his A-levels at Worcester Royal Grammar School.

Steve added: "I am so proud of all my children and grandchildren.

"I hope today, they are just a little bit proud of their dad."