A love of art and a belief in lifelong learning brought Lisburn man Roland Inman to SERC to pursue a Level 3 qualification at the age of 80.
Roland, who was a teacher himself, has recently completed the Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and Media Practice at SERC Lisburn Campus. He explained,
“I’ve done many courses at SERC over the years, both full-time and part-time. Of course, when I first studied here it was a very different building, and it was Lisburn Institute, or simply “the Tech”. I have gained City and Guilds qualifications in Carpentry and Joinery, and in Concrete Practice, and I’ve got a diploma in Biological Sciences, in conjunction with Queen’s University Belfast; I have studied engineering, art, ceramics, calligraphy…
“I have painted all my life, and I was pursuing an art course when I had to become a full-time carer for my wife. After she died five years ago – well, there is a degree of loneliness and I wanted to do something alongside other people, so I spoke to the tutors I knew here, and I was encouraged to come back to SERC.”
For many people, after retirement the idea of a leisure course to develop a hobby is appealing, but Roland wanted something more rigorous:
“This course is disciplined; you have projects to complete and deadlines to meet. We cover different media – such as photography and ceramics - and also different technical skills, relating to composition and so on. And there is an element of teamwork; we work together to create exhibitions, which is good, as you have a shared interest and you can look at what everyone has made of it. And it’s good to invite people, family and friends, to come along and comment – not just praise, question if they want to!
“You are given freedom but given direction. The direction is always positive; I’ve never known any negative; whatever the challenge is, it’s addressed by the staff with enthusiasm. For our end of year show, we were given a word to build a project around – that word is “social”. I am looking at bloodsports as a social and/or anti-social thing. In Spain for example – and I have a great interest as I play flamenco music - some see bullfighting as a social, cultural event and others would say it’s barbaric, and so anti-social. So I have created pictures relating the bullfight to the flamenco dance: two paintings showing similar movements; and a sculpture.”
As a former student from some years ago, Roland said the facilities in the smart modern building are everything you would expect or need for your course. And he was very keen to encourage others to come and make use of the college:
"When I was a teacher, it was important to me to share the value of education, and for me learning will never end. You could sit at home and watch TV all day and learn nothing, or you could use this facility. Don’t just walk past the building and think it’s for students but not for everyone. Come in and see SERC – it's a facility for you!”
