Distance no barrier to remarkable alumna learner

Margaret has used distance learning and the Internet because of her deteriorating health and mobility problems. In January 2010 she was awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Humanities from the University of Exeter – her latest qualification of many in recent years - having already completed courses from three others universities, all despite leaving school with no qualifications.

She said: 'It has been a long, slow process for me but has made a huge difference to my quality of life and opened the gateway to whole new adventures of knowledge. 'I have learnt that lack of physical power is no handicap in the use of mental power,' said Margaret. Her passion for history has developed over the years as she travelled the UK and led Margaret to study varied topics, including family and local history, the English countryside, British heritage, northern renaissance art, the Vikings and Roman Britain. 'To me education, the art of learning, regardless of subject, is never wasted. It opens up the past, present and future,' concluded Margaret.

Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns Officer at NIACE, said: 'The incredible stories of all our Adult Learners’ Week award winners show just what can be achieved in life through determination, imagination and ambition. Margaret, like all of this year’s award winners, is proof of how learning can absolutely transform lives, often leading to new jobs and careers; and helping people to cope, or even overcome, the many challenges that they face. Hopefully millions of adults across the country will be inspired by Margaret’s story to take up learning and discover for themselves a whole new raft of opportunities.'

Adult Learners’ Week, which took place between 15 – 21 May 2010, is the largest annual celebration of adult learning in the UK. The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is the leading non-government organisation for lifelong learning in England, and exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in better-quality learning of all kinds. It campaigns for, and celebrates the achievements of, all adult learners.