Lifelong learning for the 100-year-old student (From Daily Echo)

Lifelong learning for the 100-year-old student

11:00am Saturday 16th June 2007 in News

A LITTLE bit of what you fancy does you good, it is said.

The maxim seems to apply to Archie Corbett, from Lymington, who celebrates his 100th birthday today.

Bright and cheerful, Mr Corbett still drives, alternating between his Ford Escort and his mobility buggy. And he's still going to college.

A former Wellworthy factory employee, he was getting a little hard of hearing and decided to enrol at Brockenhurst College's lip reading classes in Lymington Community Centre.

To mark his 100th birthday, college principal Di Roberts went to the community centre class to present him with a bouquet of flowers and a card hand-made by Gill Hampson, who runs the adults with learning difficulties or disabilities courses for the college.

He was also given a term's free tuition from September.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a 100-year-old student in a class and he’s been a great inspiration.”

Tutor Dee Little.

"It's nice to come here. Apart from learning you meet different people as well," said Mr Corbett, who was very pleased with his gifts.

Mr Corbett was born on June 16, 1907, at Seaview Cottage in Topps Yard, off Lymington High Street, where his grandfather John Topp was a butcher.

He started working at piston ring manufacturing company Wellworthy Ltd when he was 14 and continued there until his retirement in January 1972.

His was a reserved occupation and his service for king and country during the Second World War was to be a member of the factory Home Guard unit.

He married his sweetheart Evelyn Bryant on Christmas Eve, 1932. They had a daughter, Jennifer. Archie was widowed in April 2005 after more than 72 years of marriage.

His great-great-grandson William, 17, who is also a student at Brockenhurst College, played the saxophone at his birthday party.

In his youth Mr Corbett was a keen sportsman, playing football, cricket and tennis, and taking part in athletics events and boxing.

His secret for long life? "I don't take any medicines. Sport and sugar has kept me going," he said. "Along with full cream milk and butter," added daughter Jennifer.

His tutor Dee Little said: "It's the first time I've had a 100-year-old student in a class and he's been a great inspiration."