The amazing courage of dying student Simon Wooller has astounded his family and friends.

For months the brave 25-year-old, who has just lost his fight against cancer, hid the truth from his parents who believed he would eventually recover from his illness.

And he passed away just five days after learning that against all the odds he had gained a first class honours degree from Bradford University.

His incredible academic achievement in the face of an horrific illness is all the more amazing because he was also awarded the Alison Walker Memorial Prize for the most outstanding student at Bradford University.

His distraught dad Roy, 62, paid tribute to his son: "He was a bright light and, had he lived longer, he would have shone brighter still."

Simon, from Fairweather Green, Bradford, was given a year to live after being diagnosed with lymph cancer last November.

Despite the cancer spreading with tiny growths slowly killing off nerves in his brain he carried on revising to achieve his BSc degree in Physiotherapy.

In the weeks before his death Simon began losing his hearing and sight as his illness worsened. He died on Thursday in Bradford Royal Infirmary, just five days after finding out the results of his degree.

Mr Wooller added: "We are very proud of Simon. He was so brave.

"He had been complaining of headaches and two weeks ago drove home from Manchester. He was vomiting and very distressed.

"He had a scan at Halifax and even then we were reassured that there was no problem.

"He had studied throughout all this and when he knew he had got his first, he relaxed and let go. His last night was very peaceful.

"He did not tell us how bad it was and that it was a particularly aggressive kind of cancer."

Students at Bradford University are planning to hold a charity event in his memory when the graduation ceremony takes place in December.

For his funeral he asked his family to ban black and, to celebrate his life, wear the brightest possible clothing.

And the music at his funeral is to reflect his zest for life with dance music and a song by The Lighthouse Family.

Mr Wooller added: "Simon lived a full life and, until he died, had achieved all he set out to do.

"He loved and was loved, giving pleasure to others and to himself. Even though his life was short he did all he wanted to do.

"Simon was always a battler and he had the skill to talk with people. He had the ability to leave people he spoke to feeling better for having known him. He was ever optimistic, happy with his lot and prepared to help others.

"It was this special touch with people that was his greatest achievement."

Simon was a former pupil at Allerton Infants and Middle schools and Rhodesway School before passing a degree in Anatomical Sciences at Manchester University. He then decided to study for his second degree at Bradford University. He had a job lined up as a junior physiotherapist in Oldham, Lancashire.

He was a keen actor, swimmer, badminton player and horseman.

He was living with his parents in Chippendale Rise, Fairweather Green, during the week and with his sister Sara, 28, in Manchester at weekends.

Simon mum Jean Wooller, 55, said Simon knew the importance of having a MRI scanner in Bradford.

"At the end of the day, we all realise now how important a scanner is," she said.

She paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who cared for Simon on Ward 15 at BRI.

Jan Warriner, a senior health lecturer at Bradford University's school of health studies, said Simon had been an excellent all-round student.

"He was fully committed to his studies and proved to be outstanding in both clinical practice and in academic terms," she said.

"There is no doubt Simon would have contributed greatly to his chosen profession.

"Despite being ill during his final year at university, he was very supportive of his fellow students and staff.

"They are hoping to organise a charity event in his memory around the time of their graduation ceremony in December."

Simon's friend and fellow student Alec MacHenry said: "He was more concerned about other people than himself. He was protecting people and was more worried about his illness affecting the lives of others.

"He was very brave and really courageous. I think he was hanging on until he got his degree. Simon used his illness to push himself further, as a motivating factor to gain his degree."

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