May 2010
Fifty Plus: 1985 - 2010
19th May 2010
Eastbourne School of English, founded in 1936, is celebrating 25 years of its successful Fifty Plus courses. On 14 May The Mayor of Eastbourne Councillor Greg Szanto (pictured below), Principal Graham White, administration staff, and Fifty Plus teachers, students and long-serving homestay providers came together to look back on a quarter of a century of courses for mature learners. We also welcomed agents Elisabeth Artner from Artner Seminare und Reisen in Germany and Kuichi Takashi from Japiu agency in Tokyo, as well as valued friend and agent for the school Margrit Stein from Meet the British in Switzerland.
Dorothy Rippon, Principal of the school in 1985, came up with the idea of courses for retired people. Courses ran for three weeks and included English lessons in the morning and afternoon visits to the Sussex countryside, country houses, gardens and historic towns in the South of England. 'Meet the British', based in Zurich, have brought over students from Switzerland for many years. More recently the school has welcomed students aged from their 50s to their 80s from Japan, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden and Denmark.
Graham White, ESoE Principal, said: “These days Fifty Plus students are getting younger. Some are retired while others are professionals still in work who want to improve their English and enjoy all that Eastbourne and Sussex have to offer. The Fifty Plus course keeps me younger too!”
Our oldest student was 95 years old. Friedl Theiler from Zurich came to the school fifteen times in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Agents had the opportunity to experience life as a Fifty Plus student when they joined groups visiting Michelham Priory and Sussex villages. They observed classes and commented on the high standard of teaching and the motivation of the students.
Special guests at the anniversary party were Willi Leuenberger, now 92, and his friend Alfred Lehmann (above). Both are from Switzerland and both attended the very first course in Summer 1985. They were determined to come over to England to share memories of their stay in Eastbourne all those years ago. Both gave eloquent and heartfelt speeches. Teacher Christine Payne, who taught Willi and Alfred, was also present at the celebrations.
Marie-Louise Bahnik (right), a regular participant on the Fifty Plus courses, read poetry by John Betjeman and Elizabeth Jennings.
The Fifty Plus course has been a unique experience for the thousands of students who have attended since 1985. Eastbourne's location, mild climate and excellent accommodation options make it the perfect destination for an English language course combined with a cultural experience on the South Coast of England.
Let’s raise a glass to the next 25 years!