WHEN George Smith enrolled on an Open University course, he was looking for something to do to fill his spare time. The last thing he expected was to find a wife and new family. George, aged 54, from Tavistock, met fellow student and single mother Jess Maslen at an Open University summer school at Sterling University in Scotland seven years ago. Within a year Jess moved from Leeds to join George in Devon and they married in 2004. The couple now have a daughter Isabel, aged four, and Jess's daughter, 14-year-old Yasmina. At an Open University graduation ceremony in Torquay on Saturday, George and Jess both stepped up to receive their degree certificates. Both were awarded BA Honours in humanities. George, who works for a timber company, said: 'I started with The Open University because I needed something to do in my spare time. I'd split up from my wife and was living on my own. When I met Jess we just hit it off straight away.' Jess, a 43-year-old historic environment assistant with Plymouth City Council, said: 'It's been one of those strange events where everything just fell into place. I was a single mum with a small child when I decided to do a degree. I wasn't expecting to find a husband.' For most of her career she has been a secretary, and was delighted when she managed to gain a first class degree. She now plans to study part time for a masters degree at Plymouth University. 'It has been a life changing experience. It's the whole process of thought that changes – you suddenly start to question everything that maybe you went along with before. 'It's been a fantastic start to our married life.' Another OU graduate who has seen his life transformed through education is Neil Smith from Chilsworthy, near Gunnislake. The father of two thought he would never work again after a back injury forced him to retire from farming in his late 30s. But an Open University degree has allowed him to change careers to become a teacher. Six years ago he was forced to give up his job as a farm manager when he suffered  a collapsed spinal disc. The injury left him at risk of becoming permanently disabled but Neil had an operation to have an artificial disc fitted and has since made a full recovery. Now he has graduated with a first class honours degree in science. The qualification allowed him to go on the graduate teacher programme to train as a science teacher. Neil said: 'I really loved the satisfaction of doing a degree and getting a first – I'm really chuffed about that.' Neil, aged 45, had worked in agriculture since he left school at 16. He went on to gain a handful of vocational qualifications, but had never considered higher education. After his forced retirement, he began to look for an alternative career. His wife Sally was a primary school teacher and he began to help out as a volunteer at Calstock Primary, where she is now deputy head. He enjoyed being in the classroom, and went on to get a job as a cover supervisor at Callington Community College. Needing a degree to get into teaching, Neil turned to the Open University. His family are very proud of his achievement – daughter Joanna, 20, is at university taking a degree in psychology and was influenced by her father's studying. Son Ben, 16, also wants to follow in their footsteps towards higher education.   Neil said:'I never imagined I would end up teaching. 'Agriculture was my life and it was going really well. 'When my back went, it was a bolt from the blue. 'But looking back on it, I'm glad it happened because it has enabled me to do something I really enjoy. 'I needed a degree to go into teaching and that's where the OU came in — being able to study part time at home has enabled me to do all this. It's been brilliant!' Also graduating from the Open University on Saturday was Katrina Jones, of Inwardleigh. Katrina, who works at Relyon Ltd, will receive her BSc. Katrina said: 'Understanding at an intellectual level and my lefel of confidence have both been enhanced through studying for my degree.'