'Mum had the best grade as we graduated together'
Stephanie, 52, said: "As a working mother of three daughters, I had always postponed doing things for myself."I have never believed in myself much and my confidence in academic learning was low."Mia, 21, added: "Mum gives so much to her family and never does anything for herself."
Stephanie told how her dream began after attending university open days with her eldest daughter.But it only became a reality a few years later when a neighbour who worked at the university mentioned a "fast-track" intensive short programme to help mature students return to learning.The pair, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, said they would commute together for their course but had their own circles of friends, although Stephanie earned the affectionate nickname of "Mama Hen" among Mia's friends.
Mia said studying with her mum was a "special and unique" experience, adding: "My mum loved studying more than me."Stephanie said: "This has been the hardest thing I have ever done but it's been worth every second. "To anyone who has doubts like I did, age is no barrier - you are never too old as I once thought."And Stephanie has no desire to stop there - she is returning to Edge Hill next term to embark on a Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Education.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
Frustration after Beeston sea scout water base vandalised
Sea scout leaders said they were "frustrated" and "deeply disheartened" to find their facility on the River Trent in Nottinghamshire had been 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts said multiple areas at Barton Island, near Attenborough Nature Reserve, were "deliberately damaged" last discovered the facility, which cannot be accessed by foot, had suffered "significant damage" to the toilets, barn and hut on sea scouts have used the water base, situated on the downstream half of the island, for more than 40 years for activities and camping. The damage was discovered during a weekly meeting at the group said toilet doors were forced open, ripping the locking brackets from the panels, and wooden panels torn away from the Storm Barn.A safety rail was also ripped off the balcony of a sleeping hut and a sign pulled off its mount. The group said: "It is with great sadness and frustration that we have to share news of significant damage to our facilities on Barton Island."This damage not only disrupts our activities but also poses serious safety risks to anyone on site."It also means money that should be used to support adventure and skills opportunities for young people will need to be diverted to repairing the damage."Acts like this are deeply disheartening, but we are determined to repair the damage and carry on."Nottinghamshire Police have been contacted for comment.
BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Outpouring of grief' as fire destroys historic Raven hotel in Droitwich
Fire crews are still working to put out the remnants of a devastating blaze that ripped through a historic former hotel in Droitwich fire started on Sunday at the Grade II-listed Raven Hotel, in St Andrews Street, which closed as a hotel more than a decade councillor for Droitwich, Neil Franks, said it was "heartbreaking to watch", and locals had gathered outside, some crying over what had BBC has contacted Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police for comment. "Bit by bit seeing it crumbling, going up in ash, and the outpouring of grief on the streets and on social media was very difficult to watch as well," Franks told BBC Hereford and Worcester."The Raven meant so much to the town, and it's truly heartbreaking." "The town is angry - angry with the developer, angry with whatever caused the actual fire to happen, and they're angry at the council... I'm not part of the ruling party, but I think there are questions to be asked to be honest."He added that there had been "many broken promises" by the developer, Live Urban Two."Whatever happens going forward needs to be community-led," he told the BBC."I'm just hoping that the Raven sign survives; we can get hold of it before the building is most likely demolished so we can restore it and hopefully take control of the area and put something up in its stead… and maybe we can attach the raven sign as a bare minimum going forwards.""Everyone said it was going to happen, everybody."The BBC has contacted Wychavon District Council for comment but has been unable to contact Live Urban Two. Leader of Wychavon District Council, Richard Morris, said he had been fighting for more to be done with the building."One reason why I took over the leadership of Wychavon in May was to try and get more action and more work done to get to a solution on it," he council was undertaking works to the building after the developers missed a court deadline to carry out urgent repairs."We were about a week away from that being completed - that's part of the tragedy - then we would've invoiced the owners, and they would've had 21 days to pay up," he told the said the owners were based internationally but had spoken to their spokesperson, who he believed would visit the site on Tuesday."The pressure from myself and my colleagues has been there," he added."I fear there's no hope for it. I fear it's lost." A complicated history The hotel has a complex history. In 2022, plans were approved to convert the hotel into 48 homes and flats, including development of the brine baths, which closed in a separate building in July 2024, the developer was warned that urgent steps were needed to protect the building or it would face legal action. The work had to be carried out within seven council said it wanted to see damage to the roof repaired and security fencing installed. The public had raised concerns over vandalism at the site, reporting that thieves had removed roof tiles and exposed the building to the mid-August, work began, and contractors boarded up smashed windows, repaired damage to the roof, and blocked off access to deter in November, Wychavon District Council secured a court order which gave the owner until 8 December to complete work on the Urban Two was told to reinstall props on the ground floor of the building to prevent further collapse of the first followed an incident on 24 September when parts of the guttering on the section of the building fell into the 19 December, the district council said the developer had missed the deadline to take the time, councillor Richard Morris said: "We'll ensure the necessary work is carried out as soon as is practically possible.""We've also asked officers to explore all available options to safeguard the building's future." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
A professional gardener's guide to summer pruning
As summer progresses and early perennials fade, shrubs can begin to look unruly and hedges wayward. At this time of year, many gardeners feel the urge to reach for their secateurs. But what should be pruned now, and which plants are best left untouched? According to Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), now is the ideal time to "prune the last of those shrubs that flowered in spring, such as philadelphus, ribes and forsythia". He advises gardeners to "cut out a proportion of the stuff that has flowered". A productive pruning session would see a gardener "typically taking out one stem in three" as low down on the plant as possible, he says. Here is a guide to what exactly to prune at this time of year – and how. Cut back earlier flowering perennials 'Early flowering perennials often get mildew and you can cut them back as hard as you like, give them a good water and they will regrow and often flower again in September,' Mr Barter says. 'Other perennials like hardy geraniums can be cut back now and although they won't flower again this year they will produce nice fresh green leaves.' Prune evergreen shrubs 'It's a good time to prune evergreen shrubs because if you prune them later their roots have got to survive all winter without enough leaves. If you can't prune them early on, leave it until spring,' Mr Barter suggests. Coarser shrubs such as osmanthus, choisya, elaeagnus and euonymus are all suitable candidates. Clip lavender Once your lavender has finished flowering, give it a good trim with shears to tidy it up. You should cut off the dead flowers just beyond the base of the old flower stems, but make sure you don't cut into dead wood or it won't recover. Prune wisteria Cutting wisteria back to a couple of leaves in late summer will reduce its vigour and divert its energies into producing flower buds, Mr Barter says. Shortening the current year's green shoots to five or six leaves will encourage bud formation and control size. You will need to prune it again in January or February tidy up the plant, remove unwanted growth and prepare the plant for the next growing season. These prickly shrubs will have picked up a lot of growth over the summer, so the emerging berries may be hidden by foliage. If this is the case, prune new growth just beyond the berries so that you can see them and they will ripen in time to give you a dazzling display in autumn. Doing it now will also ensure that the shrub looks tidier and will keep its shape better. Shorten apples and pears 'They follow the same principle as wisteria, so shorten back new growth to a couple of leaves which reduces the tree's vigour, lets light in to ripen the fruit and promotes the formation of fruit buds,' says Mr Barter. Summer pruning is mainly for apples and pears trained as cordon, espalier, fan, pyramid and spindlebush. Do it when the bottom third of the new shoots is stiff and woody. Check hedges Ensure that there are no birds' nests in your overgrown hedge before tackling it in late summer, Mr Barter advises. 'It's an offence to disturb nesting birds, so if you're sure there are no birds' nests in your hedge you can trim away. Otherwise, wait 'til September. 'Virtually every hedge will be growing, like Lonicera nitida and privet, and they need a good haircut twice or three times a year, but doing one now is good. 'Conifer hedges like Leyland cypress or western red cedar (Thuja plicata) can be trimmed now but be careful not to cut back into old wood. Deciduous hedges like beech and hornbeam can be pruned now as well and will look smart all winter.' What shrubs should you leave in summer? Late-summer flowering plants including buddleias and caryopteris are best left until spring to induce new growth in summer, Mr Barter advises. 'Some deciduous plants such as deutzia or weigela which haven't taken off yet, you might want to leave 'til winter. 'When you prune in the summer you are reducing the plant and taking its resources away. 'If it's looking a bit weak and straggly, either don't prune it at all or prune in the winter when its resources are in the roots. Then, when you prune in the winter you get vigorous regrowth. 'If it's a well-established plant that is big and you want to curb its size, then summer prune because it takes more of the go out of the plant.'
