A Biggleswade pensioner has proved you are never too old to learn. Widower Dudley Clark, 76, of Mount-batten Drive, finally beat his fear of going back to the classroom when he enrolled at the Biggleswade Learning Shop in Saffron Street. A former area man

A Biggleswade pensioner has proved you are never too old to learn.

Widower Dudley Clark, 76, of Mount-batten Drive, finally beat his fear of going back to the classroom when he enrolled at the Biggleswade Learning Shop in Saffron Street.

A former area manager for the Co-op, Mr Clark wanted to get to grips with computers, and four years on has four at home and is still learning.

"I had been on a computer with my nephew and wanted to know more. I went on his flight simulator and kept crashing the plane but I just wanted to be able to do the simple things like write a letter," said Dudley, who is also a private pilot.

"I had a few fears. I felt I was a bit old and felt I would feel embarrassed. But I wasn't the oldest person there and they all made me very welcome. In the end it was one of the most enlightening experience I have ever known.

"When I arrived I had no idea how to operate a computer. Now I feel very competent, so much so I even built one of the four computers I now have at home."

Diana Hope, manager at the Biggleswade Learning Shop, said: "I wish we had more students like Dudley. He shows we can all keep on learning.

"We have all sorts of students from mums who have lost confidence having been away from the office to have a family, to older people who want to be able to email their grandchildren."

Since opening its doors in 2001, the Biggleswade Learning Shop has had more than 2,500 students through its doors.

There will be an open day from 11am to 7pm on March 8 at the learning shop which will give people the opportunity to speak to staff and find out what is on offer and what it will cost.

For those who want to enrol straight away they should take some form of identification.