A 70-year-old lawyer is packing in his profession of more than 30 years in the hope of retraining as a doctor.
Tony Davis said he was interested in becoming an oncologist or an accident and emergency doctor, and has applied for a course at The University of Nottingham.
If successful, he will be 74 by the time he qualifies.
Mr Davis, of Hallaton, believes it might be difficult to get into a British medical school, so is also considering going abroad to Prague, Budapest or the West Indies to train.
"The Government plans for competitive tendering for legal aid contracts are going to wipe out criminal practice in this country and I don't want anything to do with it," he said. "I don't believe that a medical school can refuse me on the grounds of age but no matter how well I do in the assessment test I think that they will find some excuse not to admit me.
"If I can't get a place in Britain then I will look to go abroad. I don't want to but I will if necessary.
"Places like Prague and Budapest have lectures in English."
It is more than 50 years since Mr Davis sat his A levels in physics, chemistry, biology and ancient history.
But he is now busy preparing for an assessment test in August.
Mr Davis believes that, despite his age, he would be a worthwhile candidate to take on.
"Two per cent of medical students never go on to practice," he said. "The profession is now becoming more female orientated and they take enormous amounts of time off work, work part time or pack it in when they have families.
"In my case, I would be available 24 hours a day for at least 10 years.
"I already work 14 hours a day some days."
He added: "My interests are academic and intellectual but I am still in reasonable shape.
"I have never smoked, taken drugs or drank alcohol.
"I have climbed Ben Nevis several times and I walk my dog up hills every day."
Mr Davis already has a little experience of the medical world, having worked as a clinical psychologist for 10 years after leaving university.
A spokeswoman for The University of Nottingham said there was no fixed upper age limit for their medical courses.
"All medical schools have to consider everyone who makes an application irrespective of their age," she said. "However, we will consider the length of the course and expected length of service after an applicant qualifies."• What do you think about Mr Davis' decision to retrain? Have your say below.
