Harry becomes a computer whizz at 81

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Retirement

Harry becomes a computer whizz at 81

Pensioner Harry Clark is living proof of the adage that you're never too old too learn after passing a succession of computer courses with flying colours

Eighty-one-year-old Harry from Hebburn, South Tyneside - a widower with two daughters, Linda and Denise – had a career as a fitter and worked for Reyroll until he was 55, when he retired.

Bowling fan Harry spent most of his newfound time playing at the Hebburn Indoor Bowls Club, where he is also club secretary.

But playing bowls every day just wasn't enough for Harry so he enrolled on a computer course for beginners at South Tyneside College.

Harry enjoyed the six-week course so much that when he'd finished he progressed onto a succession of increasingly difficult computer courses and he now holds CLAIT, CLAIT Plus and the ECDL Advanced (the equivalent of two A levels) qualifications.

And now Harry has enrolled on a level 4 qualification – which will see him become an ECDL Expert if he passes.

Harry said: "I'm always looking for different ways to fill my time and decided when I was in my 70s that it was about time I learnt how to use a computer.

"I'd never used one before and when I first started the course I was only managing to type about five words a minute. Now I'm much better and I've even got my own computer, which I use all the time in my role as club secretary of the indoor bowling club to send emails and update the league tables."

Harry's lecturer at South Tyneside College, Linda Ward, said: "Harry really is an inspiration. He is an amazing character who gets on famously with all the lecturers and other students in his class.

"Although the ECDL course is only one day a week, Harry used to come into the college every day to practice and it's this dedication that has clearly paid off. We wish him all the very best in his latest qualification."

Harry hopes his IT wizardry in his older years will inspire others to get to grips with fast-changing modern technology.

He said: "I recommend that people just go and try it for themselves. Don't give up - give it a couple of months and it'll click.

"I got started because every day in Hebburn town centre I used to walk past the computer college. One day I thought 'why not give it a go?' and just walked in.

"At first I didn't have a clue, but I just kept going and going, at first learning the basics, like word processing, and kept going from there.

"Now I go every day, but still manage to find time for the bowls club. It's great - it keeps my brain active."

Harry is looking forward to improving his newly-acquired IT skills even further in the future - although he says he'll probably choose not to take any more exams after he gets his EDCL Expert qualification.

"That'll be enough for me. I'm going to hang up my mouse - by its tail!" he joked.