A MAN who quit school to work as a labourer now teaches university students and has achieved a doctorate.

In a packed life, 53-year-old Bill Armer has also been a policeman, a pub landlord and an engineer.

But his life took an academic turn in the mid-1990s and it's the time he's enjoyed most.

Bill achieved a first-class honours degree in social policy from Leeds University in 1998.

He followed this up two years later with a master's degree (distinction) in disability studies. He will formally receive his PhD in social sciences at a ceremony in December.

Bill, who was brought up in Bradley and now lives in Deighton, said: "I went to Huddersfield New College as a teenager, but dropped out in 1968 when I discovered wine, women and song."

A succession of jobs followed including labouring on building sites, a short stint as a trainee manager at Woolworths and working as an engineer for some of Huddersfield's best- known companies, including Sellers, Broadbent's, Holset's and Case Tractors at Meltham.

When he was made redundant from Case in 1980 he joined the police and served for nine years.

But a knee injury from playing both rugby league and union at school worsened and he left the police in 1989.

He was landlord at The County pub behind Huddersfield town hall, the White Cross in Bradley and The Junction in Kirkburton before moving to Scarborough, where he ran a pub called The Barrowcliffe between 1992 and 1994.

That's when he decided to return to education. He enrolled on an access course at the Yorkshire Coast College in Scarborough, which led to the degree at Leeds University.

During the early days of his studying Bill, who has also lived in Newsome and Berry Brow, was the bars manager at town halls in Kirklees.

He said: "I really enjoyed the academic life, got into the swing of things and found it very fulfilling.

"Now I wish I'd done it when I was 20."

He is now teaching undergraduates at Leeds University in sociology, social policy and information technology.

He is also involved with the Harambee Association in Huddersfield, an organisation which promotes inclusion for youngsters from the African- Caribbean community.

Bill has been married to Elaine for 22 years and has two daughters from a previous marriage.

He has a 13-year-old grand-daughter, Christina.