Veteran Bill, 88, is never too old to learn

Octogenarian Bill Hart has been named as Leeds Trinity University’s oldest student 
and is in his second year of a foundation degree in 
Professional Coaching of Lishi Movement.

As part of the movement exercise course he is learning about the 3,000-year-old Chinese culture through physical training, research and essay writing.

The former aircraft electrical engineer said: “Although it’s challenging, studying and practising Lishi has definitely kept me more active. The best thing about the course is the research and reading. I’ve always read, but the degree gives me a purpose to actively research.”

After serving in the Royal Navy during the war, Mr Hart became an aircraft electrical engineer and worked on the supersonic aircraft Concorde.

He said his passion for Chinese culture began when he was just seven after his grandmother showed him a photograph of the Great Wall of China.

Mr Hart, who is from Keighley, visited China many times throughout his career as part of the ‘The 48 Group’ – an independent network that was among the first to promote business links with China.