85-Year-Old Former Art Student Relives ‘Happy Memories’ of University Days

85-year-old retired art teacher and former Loughborough University student, Ann Smits, recently shared her work with art students from her alma mater.

Ann, who now lives at Woodthorpe Lodge care home, studied a four-year Bachelor of Education course at Loughborough University from 1974 to 1978, and later becoming a qualified teacher.

She went on to teach at Rosebery Primary School in Loughborough, which closed in 2006 and reopened in 2012 as Rosebery Medical Centre.

After sharing her artistic talents with staff at her care home in Loughborough, Woodthorpe Lodge, they reached out to Ann’s old university to arrange a visit with some of their art students.

Speaking with them about their current projects, Ann and the students shared some top artistic tips. Ann soon hopes to be able to visit Loughborough University to tour the campus and meet more students. Ann said,

‘I thought the students who visited were really helpful, and I’m looking forward to visiting them at my old university. I have very happy memories from studying there – I even learnt to play the piano.’

Kate Day, the Home Manager at Woodthorpe Lodge, said,

‘Anne has such an amazing talent for art. She’s usually quite a reserved person, but she really came out of her shell when it came to talking about the artwork with the students.

‘We’re very excited to soon take Ann to Loughborough University where she can see what the students today are learning.’

Staff and residents at Woodthorpe Lodge are also welcoming their local community into the home each week for their weekly Coffee Morning every Tuesday from 10:30 until 12:00. All are welcome to enjoy a cuppa, cake and chat with the residents in the home.

To find out more about the home, email Woodthorpe.lodge@idealcarehomes.co.uk, call 01509 274 027 or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk.

Woodthorpe Lodge is a residential and dementia care home, operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 en-suite bedrooms and luxurious social spaces, Woodthorpe Lodge is proud to be rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.