A grandmother proved she is still top of the class by getting a masters degree at the age of 61.

Grace Waight, of Barwell Way, Witham, graduated with an MA in European Art from Essex University in Colchester.

Grace Waight with her degree

After early retirement from her job in financial management at Mid-Essex Hospitals Trust in 1997, she decided she wanted to go to university after missing out in 1960 when she passed her A-levels.

Mrs Waight said: "It was something I wished I had done when I was 18. After A-levels I went to work in the civil service, had my two children and went back to work again."

She explained it was daunting to go back to writing essays but she soon got then hang of it.

Mrs Waight, who has two grandchildren, was accepted by Essex University in 1997 to take a fulltime Bachelor of Arts course in History where she achieved a 2:1 grade.

Her project was on the welfare of children in Chelmsford in the late 19th century.

For the part-time MA, Grace studied art from the Renaissance to Impressionism.

She said: "I would say to anyone give it a try because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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