YOU are never too old to learn — that is the message from a delighted 62-year-old who has just got her City and Guilds in Information Technology.
Anne Coates, of Tors Road, Okehampton, decided not to be left behind when it came to the world of computers – and urges other senior citizens to do the same.
'I went to the library first and they advised me to go to the Ockment Centre and take it from there,' she said.
'I worked very hard there and became the first lady over 60 to get a City and Guilds in information technology. There have been quite a lot of ladies who tried but didn't carry on to finish the course.'
She said she was able to do it at her own pace which was one of the attractions of embarking on the course.
'I went intermittently from September to April — but I did a lot of homework.'
Because Anne is disabled she said she is unable to do anything too strenuous.
'My brain was beginning to stagnate. I'd sit and do cross-stitch or read a book — but doing this has brought me back to thinking again. There is so much to learn,' said Anne who has just recently mastered swimming too.
One of the reasons she decided she would like to go on the IT course was because her husband is an avid book collector and she wanted to catalogue them for him.
'I feel this has opened up a new world in as much as everything is being generated towards computers.
'You are never too old to learn anything. You have to join in what the rest of the world is doing or you will be left behind,' said Anne.
'You have got to apply yourself. At the beginning, after one month, I was quite frustrated. I really didn't want to go on but the teacher encouraged me and said take your time and think through what you are doing — and that is what I did!'