AN 87-YEAR-OLD woman has spoken about the thrill of going back to college and becoming a student once again.

Alfreda Hill, who took part in South Gloucestershire and Stroud College’s Refresh 2 Impress programme two years ago, said going back to education was the best decision she ever made.

Refresh 2 Impress is a free three day course for the retired or over 50s and is designed for the young at heart who wish to learn new skills and re-engage with education.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the poster,” said Alfreda,who lives in Jack Russell Close near SGS.

“The poster said over 50s and I was intrigued because there are never any courses for people of my age.

“I rang the college and asked if there was an age limit and I was pleasantly surprised when the lady on the telephone said no.

“Finally I was able to enter the magic doors of college.”

The three day taster course incorporates a wide range of classes including maths, dance, health and wellbeing, information technology and a wide range of arts lessons.

Alfreda who was brought up in Bromley, Kent left school during the war in 1944 and did not receive the level of education she would have liked.

“I was always quite a bright child,” she said. “But because the war interrupted my education, I didn’t learn basic grammar or sentence structure.

“I had an opportunity to go to a grammar school in Wales but my mother didn’t want me to be away from home.”

“The refresh course was amazing, I did the maths qualification, got myself a certificate which allowed me onto the next course.

“It’s never too late to learn and I adored being in an atmosphere of further education.

“I would recommend it to anyone, it’s right on our doorstep so don’t go around with blind eyes.”

Some of the taster sessions taking place include Plastering for beginners, Introduction to Digital Photography, Sewing for Beginners, Stitched Textile Collage, Glass Fusing Introduction and Introduction to Decorative Art and Design History.

For more information on Refresh to Impress and to book a place on the available courses visit sgscol.ac.uk/refresh2impress