After seeing her two sons studying hard, a Thorpe Bay mum was inspired to take up an Open University course. Susan Mantell, 48, felt she had missed out by not going to college when she was younger.
Now she is the one celebrating after gaining her degree. Mrs Mantell, of Wanspell Gardens, started her arts course six years when she was juggling being a single parent with her full-time job as an executive personal assistant at Southend NHS Trust.
She said: "There were times when it was hard to fit it all in. Sometimes women tend to support their husband's careers before their own."
Mrs Mantell's sons Richard and Nicholas are very proud of their mum who now has a degree to equal theirs.
Triple success - Susan Mantell shares her joy with pictures of sons Nicholas and Richard
Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article