Never too old to learn

29/10/2005

In a major nationwide search, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) discovered that Bernard Herzberg, 96 and from East Finchley, is "England's Oldest Learner". Bernard recently completed his MA in Refugee Studies at the University of East London (UEL).

 

Not content with that, he has just started another MA in African Economics and Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

 

Bernard left his home in Germany in 1933 because he “foresaw what would happen” and moved to South Africa where he lived for the next 50 years; there he became a union organiser and activist, until his job required him to move to London. Five years later - aged 80 - Bernard retired and began his current learning journey.

 

Says Bernard: “My year at the University was most rewarding. My fellow students came from all over the world and most were much younger than me, but that didn't matter.”