From traffic warden to forensics student: meet the Gosport retiree turned serial studier championing free courses at adult community college

Jim Fowler was bored and frustrated after more than a year of lockdown - until his daughter Della told him about the Adult Community College’s free part-time courses at St Vincent College.

Della suggested that her dad enrol on a six-week forensics course at the college.

The 65-year-old former traffic warden and Sainsbury’s manager said: ‘When I was a traffic warden I was based at the police station and I always took an interest in forensics so she thought I’d like it and I did, it was brilliant.’

Since then he has bolstered his knowledge by studying child psychology, word processing and computing and is now embarking on a course about the history of death and burial.

Jim added: ‘This college is like my second home, the staff are brilliant and are so friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging.

‘I couldn’t believe it is all free because the courses are so well run and so informative.

‘The computing course was only supposed to be six weeks but Di Ellis who runs it is so good it is now in its 16th week.

‘It’s just really nice being with the same people and learning along with them.’

Jim lives in Gosport with wife Kath, who also studied the forensics course and has since studied woodworking and is now doing a criminology course.

He added: ‘She finds it fascinating and really enjoyable.

‘The courses have really opened a window for us because it is fun to be learning at this time of our lives, we really appreciate it.

‘It is also great to get out and meet people from different walks of life in the classroom.

‘I’ll carry on doing courses as long as I can because it is great fun and I’d recommend it to anybody.

‘I’d never have guessed that we’d be going back to the classroom in our retirement and enjoying it as much as we do.’

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The college offers dozens of courses ranging from NVQs in care, IT or business admin to lifestyle interests such as guitar, carpentry, photography.

An open day will take place on Wednesday, May 25 from 4 to 8pm, where staff will be on hand to discuss courses, costs and availability.

Tracey Strong, who runs the adult community college, said: ‘We are very fortunate to have access to various funding streams which allows us to fully fund most applicants who apply for one or more of our courses, whether this be a vocational or online qualification or a community learning course.

‘We are really proud of the variety of our courses and for anyone who wants to get back into work, pursue a hobby or who just enjoys learning there is something there for them.

‘We have a drop-in every Tuesday from 10am to noon for anyone who wants to come in and talk about a course.’

Visit stvincent.ac.uk/adult-education/adultcommunitycollege, email [email protected], or call 02392 603 606.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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