Man, 88, passes grade 8 piano with distinction, 67 years after taking grade 7

Ray Eveleigh said it was a privilege to play music written by the great geniuses such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

By the age of 88, most of us imagine our exam days are long over. But for Ray Eveleigh, the challenge of taking grade 8 piano was too much to forgo and he passed with a distinction, 67 years after he taking grade 7.

Eveleigh, a retired reverend who lives in the East Yorkshire village of Kilham, near Bridlington, said he had been blown away by the interest after his story was featured on his local BBC radio station, television and in his local paper.