Adult education classes in Surrey
Above: Don Watts (Photo: Alec Kingham)
Originally published in Surrey Life September 2008
Have you ever had a yearning to learn Norwegian or take up making stained glass? Or perhaps you simply want to get your new computer to work? Whatever your ambitions or interests, there’s likely to be an adult education course in Surrey just to suit you
Words by Debbie Ward Photos by Alec Kingham
When Susan O’Riordan began adult learning classes nine years ago, little did she imagine that one day her handiwork would end up on stage at the Globe Theatre. It was a ruff trimmed by Susan and her classmates on a Sunbury lacemaking course that took the starring role in a performance of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale.
“We all made two or three inches each,” says Susan, who lives in Hanworth. “We actually put it in for an education competition and ended up winning a trophy for it!”
Class tutor Chris Prentice, who produces professional lacework for theatres, had the idea of involving her classes with the ruff. They’ve since produced a second for a touring company and the original is back in the spotlight in an exhibition on theatre at the V&A.
Around 15,000 people in Surrey are enrolled in adult education and, this year’s new brochure contains details of 852 courses across 85 subjects. Arts and crafts classes are particularly popular and Paul Hoffman, the new adult learning manager at Surrey County Council, believes they play an important role in keeping our heritage alive.
Keeping traditions alive “We’re all developing these global interests, which are changing constantly, but there’s a British tradition around quality craft making and I think it would be a real shame if that dropped.”
Susan is certainly helping to keep Surrey lacemaking alive with her biggest project to date also in the public eye.
“I’ve made a lace garter for my niece’s wedding,” she explains. “It’s white lace with a blue ribbon. I’ve also made necklaces and bracelets for the bridesmaids and for the bride herself and now she wants earrings to match.”
While craft options tend to be the most popular, there are hundreds of adult learning courses to choose from in Surrey. Languages are another favourite with Polish, Mandarin and Norwegian among the more unusual options.
“The main reason people learn is because they have Polish parents who came over to the UK after World War II,” says Aneta Kopka, who teaches Polish at Woking. “People tend to learn the language when their parents have died, just to bring back memories, I suppose.”
With links to the UK stronger since Poland joined the EU, Aneta says some of her learners have taken up the language because they are marrying a Polish person or because they’ve bought property in the country.
However, Mary Collyer, who lives in Woking and attends classes there, started Polish simply for the challenge.
“My daughter was home from university and we thought it would be nice to do something once a week together,” she says. “I chose Polish because it’s different really. I did history of medicine before; I like to go for things that are a bit unusual.”
Though she admits pronouncing ‘tz’ and ‘rz’ sounds is tricky, Mary’s enjoying the classes and has already tried out her new skills on a couple of Polish waiters.
“They said I had a good accent, which was amazing!” She adds: “We hope to go to Poland at some point because our tutor has told us a lot about the country as well and we’ve got interested in Polish culture.”
Something for everyone
Mary is visually impaired so Aneta has provided tapes to
help her study at home. When she previously studied French through adult learning, Mary used worksheets in Braille.
Surrey County Council is keen to encourage learners with disabilities both in regular classes and on its supported learning courses, which include computers and cookery for those with mental health needs and yoga adapted for physical disabilities.
People who had a bad experience at school are also known to benefit from the supportive environment of adult learning.
“We’ve got excellent tutors who want people to relax and engage with courses without the threat of failure at the end,” says Paul Hoffman. “But if people do well we encourage them to move on to qualification-based courses if they want.”
Artist Karen Greville-Smith certainly knows that adult learning can lead to bigger things. In fact, she is such a fan of Surrey’s evening classes that for years she’s travelled from her home in Berkshire to attend a drawing and painting course at Guildford.
A freelance graphic designer, Karen wanted to keep up her painting on the side, seeing the classes as ‘me time’, but as her skills improved and her graphics work dried up, she recognised an opportunity.
She now sells her pastels and oil paintings in several galleries and teaches art to school students and mental health patients. To top it all, one of Karen’s paintings was accepted at this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition – and it sold as well!
“What’s wonderful about the course is it’s not just about drawing and painting – we also discuss the contemporary art scene and history of art,” says Karen. “Everybody’s at different levels but nobody is made to feel inferior.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t had access to the class. It’s given me a new career.”
One of the challenges for Surrey’s Adult Learning Centres is to serve people’s changing interests.
“Things tend to go in cycles,” says Paul Hoffman. “TV can be quite a strong driver for what people get into. For instance, if antique restoration has been on the TV we get a boost in numbers for that.”
The manager of the Guildford centre Jo Christophers agrees – she believes TV has influenced some younger students to join their Cookery for Men courses.
“It’s fashionable for men to cook again,” she says. “I think it’s because of the likes of Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.”
While would-be chefs favour the centre’s evening classes, the daytime ones attract retired gents. Some, like Don Watts, have been coming for years.
“After the death of my wife in December 2004, a friend of mine who was doing the courses said, ‘why don’t you come along?’” says Don, who lives in Guildford.
“My wife did all the cooking so it was really starting from the beginning. I could dabble, make scrambled eggs for instance, but give me a recipe to work with and I’d shudder.”
Now Don can turn out a variety of dishes from waldorf salad to coq au riesling. He even entertains friends and family.
“It has been a wonderful experience and it’s opened up lots of avenues for trying different food,” he says.
Varied benefits Don has enjoyed the social side of lessons, too, and says he has found them of emotional as well as practical benefit.
“It’s been terrific for me,” he says. “Particularly with losing my wife, cooking has been a great healer. My tutor, Pauline, was extremely encouraging.
“I probably wouldn’t have continued if she hadn’t supported me so much. That’s what adult education is all about really.”
What to choose... Courses that could help for work include: various languages, food hygiene foundation certificate, PowerPoint and Excel computing classes, counselling and lipreading
Practical courses include: curtain making, upholstery, book binding and clock repair
Courses that could boost your social life include: wine appreciation, bridge, mah-jong and cooking
Fitness and dance choices include: pilates, tai chi, tap, Bollywood dancing and classes for people with back pain
Artistic courses include: botanical illustration, calligraphy, sculpture, pottery, jewellery making and stained glass
Information
>> Here in Surrey, we are spoilt for choice with the range of adult learning courses available – and this number is due to expand by 10 per cent next year
>> Facilities are also due to improve with upgraded IT equipment and cookers, new pottery kilns at three centres and improved jewellery making facilities at Guildford
>> Courses are available in the daytime and evenings for durations of one day to ten weeks
>> No exams are necessary but some courses can lead to qualifications
>> Several libraries in Surrey also run special lessons
>> For more information, pick up a brochure from your nearest adult education centre or library or visit
www.surreycc.gov.uk/adultlearning