CAMELFORD resident Norm Robson, aged 59, picked up his BSc Open University Degree at a ceremony in Portsmouth on Saturday.

He started studying with the Open University in 1993, but a career that has spanned countries far and wide was not always practical when it came to studying.

He however praised the distance learning model which allowed him to continue his studies when it was viable. "It was a fantastic degree, I really enjoyed it. It allowed me to continue studying whilst I was abroad, which was very practical and what really attracted me to doing it."

Norm met his wife Jean in Sudan whilst they were both on aid contracts and attributes her influence as having a part to play in taking on the Open University course. He said: "Doing the Open University course is a family commitment, as well as a personal one.

Having worked in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East for 20 years, he returned to Geneva, Switzerland to join Jean where she was working for the World Health Organisation, and take care of their two young children.

Upon returning to the UK, Norm put his studies on hold to take on a new business venture. "The reason I delayed completing my degree was due to joining my business partner in owning and running a very successful canal boat building and boat hire business in Wiltshire in 1996, which we sold in 2004 and then went back to working in some remote locations – internationally in Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle-East."

The Robson family have had a home in Camelford for some time, but work commitments abroad have meant it was more of a UK base.

"We've had a house in Camelford for 15 or so years. We needed an English base and chose Cornwall as it is such a beautiful place to live."

Some relatives resided in the house whilst Norm and family were abroad but returned to live in Camelford permanently around five years ago,

Within the space of 12 months, Norm, his son, Mark and daughter Fiona will have obtained their respective degrees, whilst wife Jean is currently in the final stages of completing her PhD. Daughter, Fiona, attended Budehaven Sixth Form before departing for the University of Creative Arts in Rochester, and in only a few weeks' time will graduate with a degree in photography whilst, son, Mark graduated with a first class honours degree in Product Design around a year ago from Portsmouth University – the same place Norm received his this past weekend.